Peebles Craig Howie buried the horrors of a first UAE golfing visit to be staring at a maiden Tour victory in the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship.
Howie, 26, added a four-under par 68 to his opening Tour career equalling low of 64 and move into a share of fourth place at 12-under par on the Sergio Garcia designed Fire course at Jumeirah Estates in Dubai.
Scotland’s Craig Howie in contention for victory on pro career debut in Dubai
England’s Andy Sullivan continues to lead the field and falling one shot shy to tying the Tour’s 36-hole record in signing for a 66 and move three shots clear of the field at 17-under par.
Compatriots Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher, and each signing for 67, are tied in second at 14-under par.
Howie first visited the UAE in 2013 as a then 18-year old teeing-up on the Yas Links course literally just across the road from the F1 grand prix circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Though there was no fastest lap in a 22-over ‘car wreck’ round that Howie reminded his Twitter followers ahead of teeing-up on day two in Dubai, and some 65 miles to the north.
He said: “In 2013 I played my first ever round in the UAE. I shot 94. Today was a better day. Shout out to @YasLinksGC for their well-placed water hazards”.
Howie’s capped his Jumeriah second round in heatwave conditions with five birdies in succession from the Scot’s fifth hole and after his round spoke of the golfing horror of seven years ago.
He said: “To be honest it was all a bit of a blur at the time and I’ve tried pretty hard to erase it from my memory.
“It’s probably one of the best things that has happened to me. At the time I was a pretty good golfer and hadn’t had too many setbacks, so it was quite a humbling experience.
“It reminded me that the game is not that easy and I need to keep working hard. I’ve learned a lot and it’s stood me in good stead.”
The penultimate hole – Par 3, 17th – at Yas Island Links and the red roof of Ferrari World in the background (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
This week marks Howie’s first official Tour start in the UAE and at 149th on the Race to Dubai, and also having contested 10 events on the main tour, he has the chance to secure his Tour card for 2021 if the Borders star can break into the top-115.
He said: “My playing experiences are pretty limited on the European Tour and before lockdown I had only ever played once.
“This year it was more about gathering experience and trying to make the most of the opportunities that I do get. Thankfully, I’ve played well. I’m not really sure why that’s been the case.
“The good thing is I’ve just been quite comfortable when I’ve been out here. Expectations are fairly low. It seems to be a good recipe.
“The hotels, the courtesy cars, the golf is just an added bonus on top of all that. The food this week is incredible, the sunshine. There’s a lot to enjoy.”
Also enjoying his golf is top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre who also remains in contention adding a 68 to be tied in 13th spot at 10-under par with fellow Scots Marc Warren (70) and Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest (68).
MacIntyre, and with five outward half birdies, is the third highest-ranked in the Dubai field.
He said: “I played solid today. I was five-under through my front nine but then I missed a great chance at one, and my 10th hole, and that kind of derailed me a little bit as my head went slightly.
“It’s easily done in this heat, as well.
“No, there were a lot of positives. I am in a good position though there is still a lot to work on but I am in a good position”.
MacIntyre arrived in Dubai lying 61st in the world and now the Oban lefty has a second goal and that’s for the current No. 22 on the Race to Dubai to get inside the top-20 that he should achieve this week.
He said: “My goal has always been top-50 in the world and everyone knows that for many reasons but now there are other goals like top-20 in the Race to Dubai.
“It’s all just little stepping stones. I don’t worry about my golf. I know that if I put the graft in my golf game will come back and that is what’s been happening.
“That’s all I am looking at, at the moment. I am setting myself goals and just going out playing golf and seeing where we end up at the end of the week”.
