…. Yas Links, Abu Dhabi
Scott Jamieson is again in contention for a second year running at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship but it’s an end-of-season reward that his dream.
Jamieson, 39, first completed the final three holes of a ‘bad light’ suspended first round in shooting a 67 and then after a short break, it was back out to grab six birdies in a three-under 69, and to be sharing fourth place at eight-under in the record-setting $US 9m event at Yas Links.
The Italian duo of Francesco Molinari (67) and his younger compatriot Guido Migliozzi (69) head the field at 10-under par.
And after Molinari’s European team captaincy effort in being undefeated in last week’s Hero Cup, he’s again being talked about teeing-up in a fourth straight Ryder Cup later this year on home soil.
Molinari said: “I’ve got Luke and the other vice captains telling me not to think about it (laughing) you know how it is, the more someone tells you not to think about something. Yeah, it’s there. I can’t really not think about it”, he said.
“So yes, if I’m going to be there, I want to be there trying to be, obviously, sort of contributing to the cause and to the team. I just don’t want to be there for any other reason. You know, there’s a long way to go. It’s nice to see some positive signs, and the best thing for me, I think there’s still loads of things I can improve, so just stay on that path and then we’ll see in September where we’re at.”
There is also continued Yas Links positive signs for Jamieson who led this event for three rounds a year ago.
Jamieson said: “My alarm went off at 5.15, but I’d been awake since 2 (laughing). I’d like to have kept playing yesterday as I was obviously playing well and had some momentum, but you also know that when you come back in the morning, there’s going to be less wind.
“So, it’s always nice to get some weekend work in the first event of every New Year”.
Jamieson and his American-born wife, Natalie and their children Zoey and Oscar moved mid-2017 to Ponte Vedra in Florida to be closer to his wife’s family while their residence is just a short drive from PGA Tour HQ at TPC Sawgrass.
The host course each year to the Players Championship allows Jamieson and other pros to use the practice facilities though the Scot’s conscious of not stretching the friendship in asking to play either of the course, including the famed Stadium layout.
However, that could all change thanks to an unprecedented arrangement with the PGA Tour as the leading 10 players at year’s end on the DP World Tour will be handed full PGA Tour membership.
Jamieson said: “There is a lot up for grabs this year and more than previous years as there is not only some big-money events but also the Ryder Cup, the chance to earn your PGA Tour card at the Scottish Open and the chance to do the same at year’s end.
“Earning a PGA Tour card has always been a target of mine but for the last how many years, my situation it’s been like a rock in a hard place. I’ve always supported the European/DP World Tour rather than get my card on the Korn Ferry Tour, as I feel that would be a step backwards.
“When you have a young family and you have bills to pay, you need money (smiling).
“It’s why every time I drive in the front gates at TPC Sawgrass, I do find myself dreaming of one day driving-up to the clubhouse as a member of the PGA Tour, and teeing-up in the Players.
“It’s the home base of the PGA Tour and that would be mighty cool to be driving there as a Tour member but there’s an awful lot of golf to play, so that’s why it is some opportunity on offer this year for the DP Tour World players”.
Next best of the nine Scots Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest (68) and Marc Warren (67) just outside the top-20 at five-under.
MEANTIME …
Richie Ramsay found himself being asked to wait around after his round for some 30-minutes when one of his two playing partners, China’s Ashun Wu was quizzed by a Tour referee over a late round timing incident.
After hearing from Wu, his caddy and also speaking with Ramsay and Fin Sami Valimaki the referee accepted their versions of the incident and did not impose a penalty.
Ramsay signed for 71 to make the cut.+
