After his early season success, Scott Jamieson is confident of turning around a recent downturn in his game at this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Jamieson was first, third and second in his three opening events of the new season yet despite missing the cut in his last two Middle East events still continues to lead the Race to Dubai.
However the Glaswegian tees up today (THUR) feeling more at ease on the Emirates Course in Dubai in contrast to disappointing displays when he was five over par after two rounds in Abu Dhabi and then a 36-hole effort of seven over last week in Doha.
Scott Jamieson looking to turn his game around in this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“Of the three courses on the Middle East Swing I like this Dubai course the best and it just seem to fit my eye better off the tee,” he said.
“Also there seems to be a lot more realistic chances for eagles and birdies, so it’s a bit more exciting scoring wise than Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
“At the last two venues we’ve played, especially Abu Dhabi you have to work hard for your birdies, so of the three course there’s more risk and reward competing here on the Dubai course.”
For the purists, Jamieson has now missed the halfway cut in both Abu Dhabi appearances with a best score of 73 while he finished 12th behind fellow Scot Paul Lawrie last year in Qatar with a lowest score of 68 on the third and final day.
However Jamieson’s lowest score in 13 rounds on the three Middle East venues was 65 on his debut in last year’s Desert Classic and on route to a share of fifth place.
After capturing a first Race to Dubai title in South Africa, Jamieson admits he now understands why many of the world’s leading golfers elect to have the week off after tasting victory.
Jamieson finished third in Johannesburg after winning the Nelson Mandela Championship the week before in Durban and revealed he may very well elect to sit out the following week should he again win.
“It always takes a lot out of you both physically and mentally when you have a big week and while you want to be always in contention, I can understand now why some players will take the week off after they win,” he said.
“I always thought that was stupid and why would you do that.
“Of course, once you set your schedule you want to stick to it as much as you can but then I find myself constantly learning how to handle myself out here on Tour.”
Jamieson is among 11 Scots in the Dubai field including Scott Henry, Craig Lee and Chris Doak making their debut as Jamieson did last year.
And while Jamieson targets a second Race to Dubai success his big goal also this week is to pick-up the five places that would put him inside the top-64 on the World Rankings and qualify him for next month’s $US 8.75m WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship in Arizona.
A top-10 finish at worst should guarantee Jamieson the opportunity to join Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay in the February 20th commencing event.
Ramsay says he’s fully recovered from a mystery virus that forced him out of last week’s Qatar Masters.
He said: “I’m good to go but I still don’t know what I picked up last week.”
