Scotland’s David Law had a very special supporter waiting for him following his opening round of his final event of the 2021 Race to Dubai season in Dubai.
Law rolled-in a 10-foot birdie putt at the last in a round of a two-under par 70 at the AVIV Dubai Championship being played for a second year running on the Fire course at Jumeirah Estates.
Dane Joachim B Hansen was out in the third group of the day producing a sizzling bogey-free, nine-under par 63 to end the round leading by two shots from four players shooting seven-under 65s, five with 66s and 15 other posting 65s.
Oban lefty Robert MacIntyre is among those at four-under and dropping a shot at the last in a 68 while Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest also bogeyed his closing hole in 69 before being joined by Scott Jamieson on three-under.
Law, 30, teed-up in his 28th and final event of the 2021 Race to Dubai season lying 104th on the money list and assured of retaining his card heading next month into the start of a fourth full season on Tour.
Scottish golfer David Law birdies the last on day one of the AVIV Dubai Championship
The Aberdonian’s inaugural round on the Fire course was a mix of four birdies and one less bogey in very hot and humid conditions.
He said: “It’s always nice to end your round with a birdie but it’s been a bit of a struggle this week as I have been hitting it all that well though I kind of found something out there.
“So, I feel I am sort of heading back in the right direction even though the game is not particularly great.
“Given the nature of this Fire course, you can get away with it a little bit and while I didn’t hole particularly a whole lot of putts, I felt I putted well. I just need to iron out my long game.”
Though the sight of his daughter Penelope, who turns three next month, along with wife Natasha waiting for him at the back of the 18th green brought an instant smile to Law’s face and with Law waving to his daughter sitting in her stroller after sinking his birdie putt.
David Law with wife Natasha and daughter Penelope
Law said: “Penelope’s been out to a few events including the Scottish Open, Hero Open at Fairmont, the BMW PGA and it was nice seeing them there at the back of 18 as I was expecting them to be there this morning
“The fact they’re out here this week shows that it’s definitely getting easier to bring them out to events given restrictions are slowly lifting, so it’s no coincidence I have played better the second half of the season given we can start bringing out our families.
“It makes a big difference for me having them here as I don’t want to be staying away from home to lengthy periods. I was always a guy who would travel Tuesday and be home on Sunday and then come Tuesday I would be off again travelling.
“And having Penelope, it’s important for me being home”.
Forrest got his round off to an unlucky start when he had to take a penalty drop from a bush while, and as mentioned above, he was disappointed to end with a bogey.
Forrest said: “It’s never nice to bogey the last as apart from that, and also taking a drop from a bush at the first or my 10th, it was a pretty decent round
“Looking back, I was pretty solid off the tee and it’s a course where you can go low, as I managed in the last round a year ago, so hoping to do that tomorrow.
“I’m pretty tired now and looking forward to getting back to the hotel for a rest as I haven’t slept that well the past few nights what with the travel and time differences”.
Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher celebrated his 600th event with a two-under 70 while Borders David Drysdale waited a dozen holes for his first birdie in a round of 71.
‘Double D’ is projected to drop three spots to 124th on the Race to Dubai after starting his last event of the season right on the cut-off mark of 121st in retaining his card.
OTHER SCOTS
Ritchie Ramsay – 71, Marc Warren 73, Connor Syme – 75.
