Drysdale Lights-Up SJM Macao Open With Sizzling 62 & Share Opening Round Lead

2 years ago by Comments Off on Drysdale Lights-Up SJM Macao Open With Sizzling 62 & Share Opening Round Lead

Lone Scot David Drysdale brilliantly lit-up the opening round of the Asian Tour’s SJM Macao Open to share the lead with a bogey-free nine-under 62.

The Asian Tour rookie proudly headed to the clubhouse after a round, and under a preferred lie rule, that produced nine birdies to be tied at the top with Aussie Min Woo Lee, and with Lee the current World No. 46 and highest-ranked in the field.

Drysdale’s effort included an outward nine of 30 and with the Borders golfer producing four birdies in a score of 32 while the round itself may have been a 59 with the proud Scot parring two of the four par 5s and just missing a few other birdies chances.

He did produce a round that included hitting all greens in regulation and taking just 27 putts, and with his wife/caddy Vicky again calling the shots.

Drysdale birdied his opening two holes and holed three-in-a-row from the sixth hole to make the turn in five under, before more birdie gains on the 10th, 12th, 14th and the 15th ahead of a trio of closing pars.

“It was a really controlled game of golf”, he said.  “I got off to a great start with birdies at the first, second and took advantage of the short holes at seven and eight.  Hit a nice shot into 10 for birdie and then birdied 12, 14 and 15.  I had a good chance on 16 and then I was flag-high right of the green on 18 but not a good lie from where I pitched it to about 10-feet and just missed the hole.

“However, I would have taken a 62 big time before I went out.  It was just a solid round of golf.  The round is up there with one of my best scores for a long time though looking at the scores today, you are going to just to keep going.  So, that’s the plan to try and keep the foot down.

“I only played the course for the first time yesterday in the Pro-Am, and that was in a buggy!  I can tell you also it is much more pleasant being in a buggy than walking the course (smiling).

“No, it’s nice and Vicky and I are seeing so many new places this year and we’re just loving it.   This week, as well.  We’re staying in the St. Regis Hotel and there’s this mall that all the hotels back onto which incredible along with all these casinoes, all these restaurants, so we’ve been going to these various restaurants and then having a little flutter on the way back to our room … losing by the way (smiling).

“So, this also is our first time in Macua and we’re really enjoying it”.

The 48-year-old Tour rookie is really warming to this new challenge in his career having grabbed a season-best of third in last month’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Drysdale arrived in Macau lying 49th on the Asian Tour money-list and well-pltinaced for another 2023 season re-rank folllowing this week’s event on the island nation located off the China south coast.

“I made a massive move heading into the first re-rank as I think I was ranked around 38th when I first secured my card, but not really sure how I am doing at present,” he said,

“The good thing is I am playing alright and was pretty steady last week, except for a poor weekend, but then it was far too hot for me and far too steamy.

“Yes, the re-rank is important as I am hoping to qualify for the last few events.  The only possible entry question mark could be Hong Kong (Hong Kong Open, November 9th to 12th) but then the higher my re-rank the better the chance of qualifying”, he said.

 



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