It was not only Scott Hend’s golf that caught the attention of spectators but also his silver-capped shoes on day one of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
After birdies at his first and fourth holes, Hend brilliantly birdied five of six holes from the 10th before his only bogey at the last in an otherwise superb six-under par 66 on the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeriah Estates course.
It handed Scott a share of second alongside the very in-form Justin Rose and just a shot behind American Patrick Reed who, as a member of the European Tour, upstaged his 59 colleagues with a first day 65 in the $US8m event.
It is also Hend’s lowest DP World round by four shots in this his third appearance in the season-ending event while it is also a lowest score since a similar 65 he signed on day one last August high in the Swiss Alps.
Eye clearly on the golf ball – Scott Hend on route to a 66 day one 2017 DP World Tour Championship. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
“I’ll take a good round any day and I’ll take a good tournament, doesn’t matter where it is in the season,” he said.
“The way the seasons are at the moment, it’s nonstop because next week we start up again next week in Hong Kong. There’s not really any break and try to play good when you can. Play good when you get it because it doesn’t happen every week.”
Hend arrived in Dubai lying 44th on the Race to Dubai as he chases a third Tour victory.
His first day effort was also a welcome return to form for the Queenslander who has strangely struggled since his second place finish in September’s European Masters in Switzerland.
Hend proceeded to miss the cut in his next two events before stringing together three four-rounders in the WGC – HSBC Champions, the Turkish Airlines Open and last week’s Nedbank Challenge. However, the best of those was a T42nd in Turkey while last week’s Sun City showing began with a horror 80 on route to a lowly share of 57th.
Scott Hend’s eye-catchng silver-tipped shoes at 2017 DP World Tour Championship. (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
“I am just trying to stick with my job and staying in the moment, which I haven’t done in the last couple weeks,” he said.
“I am just taking small steps towards to where I want to be. That’s just what we’ve been working on.
“By staying in the moment, I mean I’ve got a 100-metres to the pin, wind is off the right and that’s all I’m thinking about. Instead of sitting there going, how about I hit this to three feet and all of a sudden pull it over to the bunker let. So it’s just staying with what you’ve got at the time and going through the process.”
While Hend has superbly ignited thoughts of a fourth European Tour win he also will be eyeing to finish top-3o at the close of the event, and an effort that would ensure him a tee time in next year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie.
However for Hend, it is all about staying in the moment.
“It’s all about staying in the moment and trying to hit the same shots you hit on the driving range,” he said.
“I know it sounds very simple and it’s not easy to do, but that’s what us guys playing out here try and do.”
Fellow Queenslander Andrew Dodt, and the only other Aussie in the field, signed for a two-under par 70 and while he managed five birdies, including back-to-back efforts at 15 and 16, he also dropped a shot at the uphill 18th.
