Hill Loses Golf Ball Up A Palm Tree But Stays Well In Sight Hero Dubai Desert Classic Lead

Calum Hill may have lost a golf up a palm tree but the Scot is well in sight of the lead after day one of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Hill, and sporting a new ‘free agent’ look, signed for a five-under 65 in ideal scoring conditions 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.

Hill’s effort included eight birdies including two either side of a 12th hole double-bogey at the par-4 12th hole along with an earlier birdies at the fourth and seventh holes, and ending his round with back-to-back birdies.

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”.

Hill kick-starts a New Year without the distinctive PING cap, attire and clubs and his on-course trademark look since turning professional at the end of 2017.

Instead, he is competing this week with a J-Lindberg cap, black J-Lindberg golf bag and a mixture of clubs while the Scot was sporting other logoes including a large KX endorsement for a gym, bar and restaurant and located in Chelsea, London.

“I didn’t resign my PING contract, having been with them since I turned pro at the end of 2017 and start of 2018. I kind of wanted to explore a few putter options as they obviously tie you into a putter”, he said.

“By doing that, it allowed me to try a few other things. I’ve tried some Titleist stuff, for instance, and I feel it is really good. I think it brings a few dimensions that I didn’t have previously and I hit a few shots out there today that were really good.

“Yeah, it (not resigning with PING) gave me a lot to think about. It took plenty of months pondering over it and it is risky as well.

“But I’ve gone as a free agent. I’ve not signed for anyone, so there wasn’t really a downside. If it wasn’t working out like I wanted to, I could always go back to it. Yeah, it was a worthwhile.

“As well, Miranda (wife) lives in Phoenix and PING is based there, so it was always very easy to go there while I also have good friends there who have helped me, so it was tricky”.

And when asked if it had been a stressful off-season in ‘pondering’ over his move Hill said: “We relaxed a lot, spending time in Tuscon with Miranda’s family and I played much less golf than I usually would.

“I obviously came out feeling fresh and, having made some technical changes with Grant Veenstra (his South African coach) , it’s good that the game is still there. It seems to have embedded a better pattern and I don’t need to work as hard to find it”.



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