No-one can question David Drysdale’s determination, superbly fighting his way into the closing two rounds of the Portugal Masters despite the threat of losing his Tour card hanging heavy over the Scot.
Drysdale, and out in the penultimate group on day two, bravely added a three-under 68 to be the leading Scot and just outside the top-20 at eight-under on the host Dom Pedro Victoria course at Vilamoura.
It leaves the 47-year-old trailing just five shots off the 13-under lead shared by Malaysian Gavin Green (65) and England’s Jordan Smith (67), and with two rounds to play.
Scotland’s David Drysdale bravely battles his way into the closing two rounds of the Portugal Masters, keeping alive hopes of retaining his 2023 Tour card
Drysdale arrived on the Algarve following an injury-plagued season lying 174th on the Race to Dubai money list and needing to finish top-two, and in what is his last event of 2022, to be assured of retaining full playing rights for the 2023 season.
He said: “I played pretty solid and it was good to finish the way I did, with three birdies over the back nine, and nice to see that one at the last drop.
“I really didn’t do much wrong other than making a mess at the 12th hole or my third, and it was nice to hole a few good shots for birdie and overall, it was pretty good.
“The course and particularly the greens are playing pretty soft from all the rain they’ve had but with a bit of luck the course may play firmer over the weekend.”
The Eyemouth club attached Drysdale, wife Vicky again calling the shots, kick-started his round holing a four-footer for birdie at the 10th hole and while dropping shots at his third and fifth holes, Drysdale regrouped also sinking a four-footer at the 15th or the sixth of his round.
Drysdale, contesting his 574th DP World event, made the turn at level par before picking-up birdies at his 11th hole, where he superbly landed an 87-yards second shot to just 18-inches before he pulled off the shot of the day, landing a 130-yard shot from the right rough to 16-inches for a second virtual tap-in birdie in the space of three holes. He then rounded off his great day’s work holing a six-footer for birdie at his last.
David Law is next best of the Scots signing for a 70 to move to seven-under and with the duo of Bob MacIntyre (69) and Marc Warren (71) at five-under.
Missing the four-under cut-off mark was Peebles Craig Howie with a par of 71s and with the Tour rookie now heading back to the Tour Q-School in losing exempt playing rights for next season with a likely 135th money list standing and 18 places shy of the cut-off mark
