Craig Lee Shows True Scottish Mettle Battling Double Dubai Injury.

Scot Craig Lee overcame swelling in his left forearm and then undergoing intensive treatment on his neck before tee off to birdie four holes in succession mid round and make the weekend cut in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Lee carded a second round 71 to trail nine shots behind Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello, winner of the event four years ago and joint runner-up last week in Qatar, who carded a second straight 67 and move to 10-under par.

Craig Lee battles swollen left forearm and neck injury to birdie four holes in a row and make the Omega Dubai Desert Classic cut. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com_

Craig Lee battles swollen left forearm and neck injury to birdie four holes in a row and make the Omega Dubai Desert Classic cut. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com_

Four-time Major winning Ernie Els, and a three-time past winner in Dubai, continues to impress in eagling his ninth hole on route to a 67 and be tied with three others at nine under par.

Els has won two U.S. Open’s and a pair of Claret Jug’s along with another 62 titles around the globe but then he hasn’t tasted success since mid-2013.

Last season he struggled terribly on the greens looking to find a user-friendly putter and a comfortable putting grip and recording just one top-10 in 22 European and PGA Tour events.

“Everyone saw the putts I was missing last season, and it was career-ending stuff,” he said.

“I’ve been in some holes before in my career but last year and it was one of the deepest and darkest.

“And getting rid of the anchoring method for me was a blessing in disguise.

“I said to my wife I just want to enjoy it again.  I don’t care if I ever win, but I need to enjoy it, otherwise I need to do something else.

“So it’s been a while since I felt this good and last year I didn’t feel like this.  It’s a nice feeling.”

Current World No. 2 and defending champion Rory McIlroy looked likely to miss the cut when he slipped to level par through 11 holes but then birdied his closing three in a score of 72 to remain at four under par.

Lee arrived at the course with a two-inch wide bandage around his left wrist and in the company of Iain Dingwall, a chiropractor based just outside of Glasgow and who’s just begun working with the Scot.

The 38-year old Lee had undergone a four-hour acupuncture session on the eve of the event that resulted in swelling of his left arm but then Lee awoke on Friday morning with a severe pain in his neck .

“I’ve really struggled fitness-wise as I had trouble with my left wrist yesterday and this morning I woke up with my neck really bad,” he said.

“I had to have a long session with the Iain and then could only spend about 25 minutes on the range before teeing up.

“I had to take some pain-killers this morning for my neck while you can see the tape on my wrist as I had some acupuncture as my forearm was troubling me, but then that resulted in a lot of bruising.

“So I feel really pleased to get through these two rounds.”

Dingwall then treated Lee after his round before the pair left the course in darkness around 7pm.

Scott Jamieson finds himself the leading Scot and continuing to display his fondness for the Emirates course posting a 71 to make Dubai cut for a fifth year running with a four under par tally.

Jamieson recorded a best finish of fifth in 2012 on his Desert Classic debut and despite being two over par after four holes he was three under for the remainder of his round.

“I am very pleased considering the start I had and given I didn’t practice that well, so sometimes where it is like that, you have your best weeks,” said Jamieson.

“If forces you to think a lot better and be a bit smarter, and generally your attitude is a little better as you are not expecting to make a ton of birdies.

“And I’ve done here finishing fifth and made the cut every time I’ve played here, so I’ve done okay.”

 



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