It’s been a six-year long wait but Andrew McArthur is determined to make the most of retaining full European Tour membership and stating at this week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.
The Lanark-born McArthur turned pro in 2005 but it was not to 2010 he gained his European Tour card graduating off the secondary Challenge Tour.
Back then McArthur was not married nor did he have two children, a boy turning five in March and a daughter 16 months old.
However after securing 12th place in last year’s secondary Challenge Tour ‘Race to Oman’ final the 36-year old Scot is out to make the most of his opportunities starting today (WED) in the Qatar capital.
“This is the first time I have played here in Qatar and after spending last week practicing at the Emirates Club and Jumeriah Estates in Dubai I’m looking forward to starting my season,” he said.
Scotland’s Andrews McArthur looking to make the most in regaining his full European Tour card. (Photo – David LLoyd/www.golffile.ie)
“But it’s just so nice to be back on the main Tour as a full member and while I didn’t play Abu Dhabi last week and I’m ninth reserve into next week’s Dubai Desert Classic, I will get into Thailand and India next month plus the two events in China.
“It will mean a lot of early season travelling and those events are quite nicely spaced as you go away, play for two weeks and then have a few weeks back home and then two weeks on again.
“So that will make it nice getting back to the family.”
After losing full membership at the end of the 2010 season McAuthur has plied his trade on the Challenge Tour and in those five years making just 22 appearances on the main Tour including a third in last year’s Maderia Islands Open.
“I’ve tried so hard to get back on the main tour and a harder struggle that I thought it would be, but then I have probably taken longer to mature as a golfer,” he said.
“Before it was all about getting here whereas now it’s all about the cash (smiling) so in terms of my game I just have to accept what I do rather than do things that are different to what I am used to.
“Heading into this New Year I don’t feel any pressure to perform and I am just accepting I am here in Qatar to play golf and see how it all pans out.
“Looking at the schedule I will have a nice run of events up to The Open then a few weeks off and then I’m be back competing from late August onwards.”
And there’s one event McArthur won’t have to worry about and that’s the July 7th starting Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
“I’ve never played Castle Stuart so it’s going to be great not having to worry about an invitation,” he smiled.
Joining McArthur is a strong field of nine fellow Scots including 1999 Qatar champion Paul Lawrie and with the inaugural event winner, Andrew Coltart on hand reporting for SKY Sports.
