In a Coronavirus-free world Scotland’s David Drysdale today (Thursday) would be happily celebrating his 45th birthday competing in the opening round of the Hero Indian Open.
The New Delhi event also should have been his 499th European Tour event and with the celebration of the Scot’s 500th mid next month in steamy Kuala Lumpur for the Maybank Championship.
But the global virus pandemic has hit the sporting world hard with two of the four golfing Majors for 2020 already postponed and the St. Andrews based R & A, and organisers of golf’s oldest major, on tenderhooks if they will have to follow suit.
Instead, Drysdale and his wife and caddy, Vicky will quitely celebrate his birthday at their Cockburnspath residence rather than a bigger bash at the nearby Eyemouth Golf Club, and the club he represents on Tour, no doubt ruled out given Scottish Golf advice to all Scottish clubs in not encouraging ‘mass’ gatherings.
At least, ‘DoubleD’ is keeping busy as this great tweet sent out by Vicky of him cutting the lawns.
Only been home for 24hrs & Double D is bored already 🙄🤦♀️ Oh well may as well cut the grass then ⛳️🤣 #Thisboylovescuttinggrass #JohnDeere #rangegoals #home #tocold @EuropeanTour #teamDD pic.twitter.com/Zx1sLfbfBf
— Victoria Drysdale (@vicky_drysdale) March 15, 2020
Dyrsdale’s birthday could easily have been a ‘double celebration’ had the events of 10 days ago been different.
The very affable Scot teed-up in a 498th European Tour event among a big contingent of 10 Scots in the CB Qatar Masters and brilliantly getting himself into contention for a very first Tour victory thanks to a third day 64.
Those that follow the game in the Home of Golf nation were then aghast when Dysdale missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have won this a first title but somewhat relieved he was in a play-off.
And what a play-off with Drysdale and Jorge Campillo going at it for five extra holes only for his Spanish rival, and for the fourth occasion in six times playing the 18th, sending an outrageous birdie putt to the bottom of the cup.
Drysdale was left guttered heading to the locker room and with he and his wife finding their way to Doha Airport where Drysdale sought to ease his disappointment with a glass of Scotch and at the time wondering what he needed to do win a first Tour title, given he’d hit so many shots in the play-off but with Campillo seeing the hole like a bucket.
With no tournament on the schedule the week after, the Drysdale’s headed to Dubai where the now highest-ranked Scot on the Race to Dubai tour could work on his game before heading to India.
Four days after the Drysdale’s arrived in Dubai, the European Tour advised fears of the Coronavirus led to postponing the Hero Indian Open and with Drysdale explaining to Bunkered Magazine what next transpired.
He said: “We were in a shopping mall in Dubai on Friday – which is a weekend day over there – and it was dead.
“Nobody was going out. Even in Dubai airport, we were getting a 7.30am flight to Newcastle and usually at that time the place is absolutely mobbed but yesterday was as quiet as I’ve ever seen it.
“Fortunately, Vicky and I are both fine – touch wood – which is a relief given we’ve done a lot of travelling and visited different countries in the last few months.
“We’ve racked up a lot of air miles and I don’t think I’ve seen so many face masks on flights in my entire life. But we’re not taking any chances.
“For instance, my parents are both in their seventies and I’ve already said I’m not coming near them for the next two or three weeks, just to be on the safe side.”
When and where Drysdale will get to contest his 499th and 500th European Tour event is anyone’s guess but when he does compete in a 500th the Scot will the 41st to achieve such landmark.
Drysdale said: “It really feels as though the world has come to a standstill, almost as though somebody has hit the pause button.
“All we can do is hope that things return to normal soon and that we’ll be able to resume everyday life at some point in the next couple of months.”
