Ferguson Inspired By New Putter & Constant Sightings Of His 51-Storey Dubai Apartment Building

Scot Ewen Ferguson found himself inspired not only by a new putter but also by constant sightings of his new 51-storey apartment building in muscling his way straight into contention at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Ferguson, 28, brilliantly kick-started his new season birdieing his opening three holes in a five-under-par 67 before being joined by fellow Scot Calum Hill with the same score to share fifth place in the $US 9m Rolex Series event on the host Emirates Golf Club course.

The trio of Aussie David Migliozzi, Spaniard Ricardo Gouveia and young American amateur lefty David Ford lead the way at seven-under while double defending champ Rory McIlroy admitted his round was ‘pretty scuffy’ in signing for a 70.

Ferguson’s effort, and now as an ambassador for the club, is his lowest Desert Classic score by a shot in six prior Tour loops on the Majlis layout

The Scot holed birdie putts of 30-feet at his first hole, five-feet at his second and a four-footer at his third along with birdies at his 11th and 12th holes in a flawless showing.

He said:  “I put a new putter in play though that’s something that ​is not shocking for me. I actually got a couple of new putters made and a new face on this Scotty Cameron putter I was using today.

“The ball kind of springs off the face much better without using too much momentum.

“I usually struggle using a new putter.  I feel like I putt really well when I am putting at St. Andrews or Carnoustie and on flat greens where there is Bent grass and also where I know what the ball is going to do, like Wentworth where I have always putted quite nice”.

And in somewhat a bizarre revelation was the comfort he got from the constant sight of his new home, including using the building, and located in the Dubai Marina, as his driving line off the par-4 eighth hole.

He said: “I can actually see my apartment from most tees and even the practice putting green here at the back of the clubhouse (smiling).

“It’s also actually funny as my line off the 8th tee is my apartment building.  If you walk to the corner of my balcony, you can actually see the 8th tee.  Also, I’m on that 8th tee thinking that I really do need to hit a good one, as I don’t want to find the lake (laughing)”.

Hill fought back from losing a ball in a palm tree at the 12th hole and taking a double-bogey ‘6’, and this after birdies at 10 and 11, bounced back with birdies at 13 and 14, and also the closing two holes.

He said: “I got a little unlucky on the 12th hole, where I pulled my tee shot onto​ the sand in the middle of the palm trees but then couldn’t find it. A guy heard it clatter and there was a ball on the ground covered in sand but it wasn’t my one.

“So, it must have stuck up a palm tree and, after going back to the tee, I took a double there but then bounced back nicely with a couple of birdies and kept it strong to finish. I am really happy with how I managed that scene and finished with four birdies after being on a run to that point”.

Top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre headed straight to the practice putting green after his round of a one-under 71.

OTHER SCOTTISH SCORES …

Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson – 70

Connor Syme – 71

Grant Forrest – 70



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