Jamieson Pleased To Be Bogey-Free Around Monty’s Bahrain Designed Course

6 months ago by Comments Off on Jamieson Pleased To Be Bogey-Free Around Monty’s Bahrain Designed Course

Scotland’s Scott Jamieson was pleased to emerge bogey-free over the Montgomerie designed host course on day one of the Bahrain Championship.

Jamieson, 40, posted a five-under 67 to be just three shots adrift of 22-year-old French rookie Tom Vaillant.

Vaillant, who was runner-up in last year’s Challenge Tour final, birdied his closing two holes in a score of an eight-under 64 and in only his fifth full member DP World Tour event.

Jamieson finds himself in a five-way share of eighth place that also includes Rasmus Hojgaard who was runner-up at last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship and despite complaining of a bout of food poisoning, the Dane was delighted to finish birdie and eagle.

Jamieson’s effort was a welcome return to form for the affable Scot having missed the Al Hamra course cut last week while his Bahrain 67 matches a best in 19 rounds of the new 2023/24 wraparound season.

Jamieson capped his blemish-free effort with three birdies in succession mid-round and none better than holing a 23-footer at the par-4 11th hole.

He said: “It was nice to finish bogey-free as it doesn’t happen very often. I didn’t play great but I was able to take full advantage of a few opportunities that I had, so I scored very well”.

The originial 9-hole Royal Club course was redesigned by Colin Montgomerie and opened in late 2008 as a full 18-holer, and it is still the only grass course, and where there is a ‘free drop’ from pipelines that run through the course, in the oil-rich island nation.

Image – www.GolfByTourMiss.com (2011)

And while Monty is credited with golf course design work in Dubai, his hilly-like Bahrain course is vastly different to the flatter venues in the UAE, as Jamieson will attest.

Jamieson said: “I was on the Tour back in 2011 when the Tour was last here but it was more a winner’s event back then, so I didn’t receive an invitation to attend (smiling).

“So, this is my first look at the course, and there are quite a few difficult holes our there and, also some interesting designs at certain points of the course that make it tricky.

“We also have wind forecasted over the remaining three days and that is sure to make it interesting”.

The Jacksonville-based Scot is also enjoying working with legendary caddy Phil ‘Wobbly’ Morbey, and after being sacked at the start of the year by long-time looper Ritchie Blair.

Jamieson said: “Wobbly has been great and he’s brought a different feel to my game, so I am really enjoying having his experience and the different conversations we are having”.

Fifer Connor Syme got his round off to a great start holing a five-footer at the first for birdie and then found the green in two at the par-5 third hole where he drained a 24-footer for an eagle ‘3’.

The Ladybank club Life Member bogeyed the next but regrouped with birdies at nine, 10 and 13 while Syme’s 30-footer birdie attempt at the 14th stopped right beside the cup.

Syme then bogeyed 15 on route to a four-under 68 and still a good footing to make it six pay cheques from as many events this new season.

Callum Hill was bogey-free and sharing third place at five-under heading to the last only to find water off the tee and walk off with a double-bogey in a score of 69.

Richie Ramsay and Grant Forrest posted 70s and David Law a 71.

Stephen Gallacher, who shared fourth place 13-years ago when the Tour was last Bahrain, signed for a disappointing four-over 76 that included playing holes 15 to 17 in six-over.

 



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