Scotland’s David Drysdale was pleased to end a ‘Shamal’ free windstorm final round at his Qatar Masters campaign with a one-under par 70 for a one-over par tally in Doha.

The Borders ace has experienced the Arabian winds many times in teeing-up on the nearby Doha Golf Club course that hosted the event from 1998 to 2019 but Friday and Saturday’s 40-mph sandblast was among the toughest in 14 visits to Qatar.

But unlike the often bitterly cold Scottish breeze, the ‘Shamal’ naturally produces warm winds.

Scottish golfer David Drysdale saying rounds two and three in Doha two of the toughest days in his 14-years travelling to Qatar

Drysdale said: “On Friday and Saturday the conditions were very tough, wind-wise.  They were very strong winds yet it was very warm and a bit like being in an oven.  It was weird and just really tough overall.

“It was also pretty hard to see with the sand and the dust in the air for those two rounds.”

Drysdale’s four rounds included 15 birdies and one more bogey on the Jose Maria Olazabal designed Education City layout.

He added:  “It was good to start and finish the week under par but overall, I didn’t have my best game this week, so it was at least good to play the final under par.

“The golf course was again in great condition.

“Overall, it wasn’t an enjoyable week (smiling).   The wind kind of knocked my game a little bit but in saying that I’m looking forward to coming back next year”.

Drysdale, along with five other Scots who teed-up in Qatar, were crossing the equator for back-to-back events in Kenya.

The event returned to full European Tour status in 2019 but was cancelled last year due to the Coronavirus.

And it will be a fond return for Drysdale to the east Africa nation and 21-years after teeing-up in his then first overseas event, and also just a fourth tournament as a member of the secondary Challenge Tour.

He said:  “Yes, it’s been a long time since I was last in Kenya and really looking forward to going back to Nairobi.”

Joining Drysdale in Kenya will be Grant Forrest who closed out his Qatar showing also with a 70 for a level par tally.

David Law, who led day one with a 64, signed off for a 72 and a two-over total and one fewer than Scott Jamieson (73).  Richie Ramsay (70) ended at six-over while Connor Syme (75) on seven-over.

Frenchman Antoine Rozner made it two wins in his last six starts holing a monster 60-foot birdie putt on the final green in a round of 67 and won by a stroke at eight-under par.

The 28-year-old Parisien captured last December’s inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship and now a second victory also in the Middle East.