Asian Tour rookie David Drysdale has make it five halfway cuts from seven events this rookie season at this week’s International Series England event at Close House near Newcastle in north-east England
The proud Scottish golfer grabbed three birdies in a two-under 69 to be just inside the top-40 in the $US 2m event featuring a number of LIV players including American Jason Kokrak, who shares the lead on five-under with Spaniard David Puig (66) who share the lead on six-under.
Drysdale said: “The game is solid, I played well. I thought that at the start of the day, if I break par I’ll make the weekend after yesterday, shooting three over and playing decently yesterday, just struggled on the greens and today was pretty much the same.
Scotland’s David Dyrsdale makes if five halfway cuts from seven events in his rookie Asian Tour season
“I played well and made a couple of putts but still missed several chances. The greens were just difficult to read and they’ve got some slope on them and they’re soft and slow, but totally understandable after the weather we’ve had for the last six weeks or so”.
Now going into the weekend, the golfer known affectionately at ‘Double D’, is looking forward to improving his position on the Close House board.
“I mean, I’m going to be a long way back like 50th or something like that. I mean, the weather is not too great this afternoon, the cut might go out to the first two, I’m not quite sure,” he said.
“So, I’m either going to make it by the mark or make it by one so a lot of work to do. The lead is six at the moment but might be even lower than that come the end of the day. I’m not sure. But, yeah, just one shot at a time tomorrow and see what happens”.
Of course, Drysdale is also one of the more senior players out competing and while he will not be getting ahead of himself, there is the opportunity if he does well in the remaining 10 Asian Tour events this year of not only earning full 2024 Asian Tour membership but finding himself on the LIV Golf tour.
“Absolutely, it’s been great. I mean, I’ve played the International Series event one at Hua Hin, Black Mountain back in March and loved that,” he said.
“I thought it was very hot. It was first week we came out from Scotland and we struggled a bit in the heat but Vietnam was great. First time we have been to Vietnam. Really enjoyed going to Vietnam, loved the golf course, loved the people, and the foods. It’s an Amazing place.
“Next week at the Fairmont. I mean, I think we’ve got Singapore, we’ve got Indonesia, Hong Kong so looking good. These have been great events. We’re well looked after. Proper golf tournaments.”
Also heading to golf”s tradtional moving day, and a little higher up the leaderboard is England’s Ian Poulter finds himself just inside the top-10 at three-under and one fewer than past US Open champ Graeme McDowell.
England’s Lee Westwood, and who long represented Close House produced scores of 70 and 75 to make the halfway cut right on the three-over par mark.
