Aberdonian David Law produced an equal career low 64 thanks to former double Doha champion and now manager, Paul Lawrie in muscling his way to the front on day one of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Law, 29, birdied his opening three holes in an eight birdie and no bogeys haul on the Jose Maria Olazabal designed Education City layout.
Law returned to the Qatar capital having missed the cut in his prior two appearances while his showing makes a mockery of a current 986th world ranking.
The Scot’s effort, and in a 66th main Tour event, matches a 64 on day one of last July’s British Masters while Law has shot 64 three times on the secondary Challenge Tour.
He said:” It was a good score. I played really well. Conditions were quite easy but I was happy with my iron play and I holed some putts, which was nice.
“I’ve been guilty over the last few weeks when I’ve had decent rounds going but not finishing them off. I was semi-conscious of sticking with it and trying to go low. I was really happy with how I stuck to my routines, my processes and I came out of it with a good score.”
One of those delighted with Hill was 1999 and 2012 Qatar winner, Paul Lawrie who now manages Hill under his ‘5StarSports’ umbrella who tweeted Hill’s scorecard with just one word: “Flawless”.
And ahead of heading back to the Middle East post two missed cuts in the three events, Law sat down with Lawrie and coach Alan McCloskey.
Paul Lawrie – A two-time CB Qatar Masters with wins in 1999 and 2012
Hill said: “Since playing in Saudi, I sat down with my coach Alan McCloskey and Paul Lawrie, we discussed it and it’s all about getting the ball in the hole now, trusting that you’ve done the hard work and the work’s done”.
The good news for Law posted his score in the afternoon half of the draw and with two of the four sharing second place will be out teeing-up in the afternoon on day two when a forecasted strong ‘Shamal’ wind to hit Doha.
Those in second place on seven under par include – England’s Richard McEvoy, Finland’s Kalle Samooja, South African Hennie Du Plessis and Italian Nino Bertasio.
Glaswegian Scott Jamieson signed for a four-under par 68 and was pleased with his driver after being short-changed in the earlier Middle East events this year with his longest club.
He said: “Four-under is a good start, so pleased with that.
“I’ve had a bit of time off since my last tournaments, so you’re never quite sure what to expect coming back but then I have been working pretty hard at home, so nice to get off to a decent start
“I’ve been working on trying to tidy-up my swing a little. I hit it okay in the Middle East but then I always battle with the driver is something I always battle with as I don’t hit it straight enough.
“So, this course probably suits that a little bit because there is a bit of room off the tee and you don’t use a lot of drivers. You have to be careful where you put the ball,”
But while Law will look to stretch his lead in the morning on day two, Jamieson is wary of the impending ‘Shamal’.
He said: “It looks like tomorrow afternoon is going to get pretty windy and I was aware maybe we will be on the wrong end of the draw, so you have to get off to a good start and that is what I was thinking, so that is okay.”
Richie Ramsay and Connor Syme are two-under with David Dyrsdale and Stephen Gallacher at one-under par
