Former Irish Open winner Stephen Dodd heads the field contesting tomorrow’s commencing (Monday) Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open, the second stop on the MENA Golf Tour being played at the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
Dodd, who captured the 2005 Irish Open at Carton House, has failed to again hold onto his European Tour card and hence the Welshman teeing up in the UAE capital.
Dodd had two other wins on the European Tour including victory in the 2005 Volvo China Open and then a second success in Ireland in finishing first in the 2006 European Open at the K. Club.
The MENA Tour’s Paul Booth expecting an absorbing contest in this week’s Tour event in Abu Dhabi. (Photo – MENA Tour).
However Dodd will face stiff opposition in the form of England’s Zane Scotland who captured the Dubai Creek Golf Open, and the opening event on this year’s Tour.
Scotland, 30 has good memories of the course to motivate him after shooting rounds of 69, 72 and a final day course record 67 to win last year on the Gary Player designed Saadiyat Beach course.
“It feels good coming back to a venue where you have enjoyed some success,” said Scotland.
“This is a new tournament and a new start so let’s see how things unfold.”
Also in the Abu Dhabi field is the Moroccan duo of Faycal Serghini and Younes El Hassani and Pakistan’s Mohammed Munir and Aadil Jehangir.
“The course is in superb conditions and you have got to hit some good shots to reach the greens in regulations,” said Serghini.
“The greens are a bit fast. At the end of the day if it turns to be a sort of putting competition I won’t be surprised,” said Serghini, who shot back-to-back rounds of 70 last week for a middle-of-the-pack finish on 215.”
Director of Tour Operations for the MENA Tour, Paul Booth remarked: “The course is set up nicely at 7,300 yards from Gold Tees and the greens will be running a bit fast, about 10.5 to 11 on the stimpmeter.
“The players will have to hit their approach shots in the right place on the undulating greens if they aim to do well. You never know what will happen in golf, but the course will provide a fair all-round test for the players.
“If the desert winds get up, which happen so often, they could affect the scoring,” said Booth, adding: We look forward to seeing an absorbing battle in the next three days since the field looks pretty strong.”
The Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen has attracted a full field of 120 players compared to last year’s 72, the rise in number amply reflecting on the tour’s and the event’s popularity.
