Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson was far from pleased when he found himself ‘put on the clock’ by a DP World Tour official while still very much in contention late in his round on day three of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic here in Dubai.
Ferguson was one-over par for his third round heading down the 16th hole on the host Emirates Golf Club course when he, and playing in the group of Kiwi Dan Hillier and Aussie Jason Scrivener, was approached and advised to speed-up his play by the Tour’s Mark Litton.
Ferguson was also a member in the last group on the course in the $9m Rolex Series event, so there could hardly be any issue in holding-up those players behind while many have since questioned Litton’s intervention when the trio had been waiting almost on every hole for those ahead of them.
Mark Litton, DP World Tour Director of Rules, speaks to Ewen Ferguson, Jason Scrivener and Daniel Hillier on day three of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club | Andrew Redington/Getty Images
However, and as is so often the case when players are formally advised by a Tour official to speed-up, they then begin to rush their play and proceed to drop shots, and this is exactly what transpired with the 28-year-old Ferguson.
Ferguson proceeded to bogey both the par-4 16th and also the par-4 17th holes before pulling-off a super wedge third shot from the left round and just short of the 18th green, and with his ball hiting the flagstick and for the easiest of tap-in birdies and a round of a two-over 74.
The triple Tour winning Scot ended at 10-under and three adrift of Hillier and with Tyrrell Hatton, a seven-time DP World Tour winner and the current Dunhill Links champion the player now to beat.
Ferguson was approached after his round and his tone clearly reflecting his far-from-pleased demeanour.
Another day. Another dramatic finish for @EwboF #HeroDubaiDesertClassic | #RolexSeries https://t.co/BtxkA8Nj9B pic.twitter.com/j4ZqzAsAtg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 18, 2025
“I was just playing with so much intensity and passion, so for that warning to come in and interfere with that, it changes the way your heart feels and it’s all part of everthing”, said Ferguson.
“So, I just felt it was needless, anyway.
“It was a hard enought day but I felt like I was grinding well and they put us on the clock walking onto the 15th green and then on the 16th tee, and honestly for no reason .. I knew were going to be waiting on 17 and 18 anyway, and I felt like I was rushing and I was playing with a lot of intensity, anyway.
“Then all of a sudden I felt I was too hyped-up and just couldn’t calm down, and that kind of ruined me.
“So, feeling a bit sour but then birdieing the last hole and to be in the last group going into a Sunday is where you want to be.
“Now to be playing with guys like Tyrrell (Hatton) and Dan (Hillier) will be good, so I can just go out there and do my best.”
