Abu Dhabi … Newly-married Jason Scrivener celebrated his very first round of a New Year in posting a sizzling six-under par 66 on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Perth-based Scrivener’s score, and in a fourth straight appearance in the Abu Dhabi event, handed him a share of third place alongside World No. 1 Brooks Koepka.
The duo were just two shots adrift of the leading duo of Italian Renato Paratore and South African Shaun Norris who signed for eight-under par 64s in ideal scoring conditions.
Newly-wed Aussie returns to the European Tour celebrating a six-under par 66 on day one of the 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (Photo @tourmiss)
Scrivener was out in the fourth group of the day contesting the $US 7m Rolex Series event and got off to a brilliant start with three birdies straight off the bat.
The West Australian then birdied the sixth hole, the 13th and then the par-5 18th to end his round then lying second behind Parartore who was in the group ahead of Scrivener.
Scrivener clearly likes the National Course in the UAE capital having shot a best score a 65 on day two of the tournament a year ago while he’s also benefitted for working on his game over the Festive Season working at the Meadow Springs club in Mandarah, and home to he and his new wife.
“This is my first event of the New Year and I played great, so very happy with a 66,” he said.
“I really like the course and I’ve come back to competition after a pretty decent break that included getting married in Perth.
“It was nice to switch off and think of something else other than golf for once.
“Aside from all the marriage preparations, I’ve been working hard on my game at Meadow Springs south of Perth in Mandarah where we live, so that’s been a great help.”
And it is not lost on the 30-year old Scrivener, and current World No. 148, the success being enjoyed by Australian golfers around the globe, including Wade Ormsby who captured last week’s Hong Kong Open and for a second time in three years.
“With Aussie golfers now doing well around the world we all can feed off that,” said Scrivener.
“The last couple of years has not been that amazing for Australian-born golfers in Europe as it’s been a real dry spell but you look at this 2020 season and there will be a lot of Aussies competing.
“We had Wade playing this week along with Zach Murray and also Scott Hend.
“You only have to look at the Irish guys who have been feeding off Padraig Harrington and then there’s Scotland Robert MacIntyre winning ‘Rookie of the Year’ last year so that’s going to help the Scots.
“You have the likes of Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm helping to inspire the Spanish and now we’re seeing Adam (Scott) win again just before Christmas and then last weekend Cam (Smith) wins on the PGA Tour and later the same day Wade (Ormsby) won again in Hong Kong.
“That can only help all of us out here so I know I am really looking forward to hopefully doing my part this new season.”
Ormsby ended his round in sensational style and after taking a double-bogey at his 16th hole the Adelaide golfer holed his second shot at the long par-4 ninth hole for an eagle ‘2’ in a round of a one-under par 71.
