Irish master windy conditions to remain on course in Qatar
It seemed the tougher the conditions the better it suited the Irish, with Shane Lowry and Gareth Maybin leading the way with one-under par 71s on a bright but extremely windy day in the Qatar capital.
Peter Lawrie carded a level par 72, Graeme McDowell a 73, while Michael Hoey and Damien McGrane, with respective scores of 74 and 75, remain very much in the four-round picture.
England’s Oliver Wilson and Welshman Bradley Dredge head the field after five-under par 67s, while four players – England’s Lee Westwood, Germany’s Marcel Siem and the Swedish duo of Robert Karlsson and Alex Noren – are next best at four under.
Visiting American Kenny Perry and double Abu Dhabi Championship winner Martin Kaymer of Germany recorded rounds of 74.
Lawrie, with two birdies and just as many bogeys, summed up the conditions best suggesting the weather was akin to a normal Irish day for the former Irish Amateur Close Champion.
“The conditions were just like a normal day at home, though you don’t get rough like that at home and that’s the tough part,” he said.
“I wouldn’t be the longest off the tee, so having to hit it rather than place it off the tee, you have the trouble of trying to hit fairways. I also didn’t sleep great last night so it was a tiring day and with the wind, you are trying to concentrate so hard all the way around”. Once again, Lowry is well in contention just four days after finishing fourth in Abu Dhabi following a round that included just two birdies, at the close of each nine, and an 11th hole bogey.
“It was one of those days when you have to just grind it out and get stuck in,” said Lowry. “The course is playing very tough. It’s been one of the toughest day’s golf in a long time so to be able go to out there and shoot under par is an achievement, he added.”
Ballyclare-born Maybin’s debut in Qatar was a mix of two birdies and just one bogey and he later confessed enjoying the opportunity to further test himself and his game in the conditions.
“I quite enjoyed it out there,” he said. “I was just plodding along, as I normally do, and just trying to pick off the odd birdie here and there and not drop too many shots. I didn’t play that great but I managed to scramble well and my short game was pretty good.”
McDowell’s round included three birdies and four bogeys on a day not akin to many he’s spent at his beloved Royal Portrush course.
“It’s tricky out there with all the crosswinds and you’re trying to shape shots against them,” he said.
“I played about average, a bit of room for improvement.
“I’m trying my best not to get frustrated, especially this early in the season.”
Former British Amateur champion Hoey ended his round in bright style by rolling in a 17-foot curling birdie putt for his 74.
“There’s no doubt a 74 has kept me right in this tournament,” he said.
“It was very tough out there and I played really well.
“It was disappointing to bogey the ninth and 10th as I didn’t hit bad tee shots and they were probably both only a yard in the rough but once you are in there you struggle to make the greens”.
McGrane is hoping to move up the board on day two after missing the cut in last week’s Abu Dhabi event.
“I’m suffering from a barrage of ‘new’ this year as I’ve got new irons with new grooves, and a new ball, so I really have a lot on my plate but then I have to start somewhere,” he said.
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