European Tour veteran Dodd lauds the Mena Golf Tour
Stephen Dodd is seeking to rediscover “an inexplicable loss of form” when he tees it up at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club Open, the opening event on the MENA Golf Tour, today (Monday). The three-time winner on the European Tour will join a strong 123-player field which includes 36 amateurs, hoping to knock the rust of the game in the run up to the European Tour qualifying rounds in November.
The 46-year-old veteran from Wales may have lost his European Tour card last year, but his confidence hasn’t taken a hammering.
“A lot of players go through this (lean) patch. Hopefully, I will be able to sort things out and win back my card,” said Dodd, the former winner of the Nissan Irish Open, the Volvo China Open and the Smurfit Kappa European Open.
“I am not getting any younger. Playing in the MENA Tour events has provided with an opportunity to try and turn things around. The course looks in great shape, though wind could be a factor during the week.”
The MENA Tour, he said, has all the potential to become a significant one in the near future. “Their idea of promoting golf among Arabs is just great. But it’s important for emerging Arab golfers to travel and play on different courses in the world if they are become a make a career out of golf,” said the Dodd, who finished runner-up to Ernie Els in the 2005 Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
“The Desert Classic is one of my favourite tournaments having played it so many times. I would love to do it again, but it all depends how things work out for me,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jake Shepherd, the winner of the 2011 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title, believes he needs to take a relaxed attitude into the Dubai Creek Open he is to overcome an increasingly powerful field and seize the early initiative.
“I need to satisfy my own expectations. A little bit of pressure will be there, but I know I have to start from the scratch. What happened last year is history,” said the 22-year-old Englishman.
“Obviously, the goal is to try and finish among top three on the Order of Merit and win a ticket to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. I am not putting undue pressure on me and will take things as they come,” he said, adding: “Staying calm will be the key.”
Morocco’s leading professional Faycal Serghini has also set his sights on winning a spot in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. “I finished sixth last year (on the Order of Merit) and would love to better that performance,” he said.
“The course is just amazing and layout of the some the holes, especially the 12th, 17th and 18th is fantastic. It will be fun to play here. I think the short game would be the key to a good around,” he added.
UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh, who has just turned professional, sounded pretty cool despite all the hype swirling around him. “For me turning pro is no big deal. I was thinking about for a long time and I am glad that I have finally made the decision.
“I have to keep things simple and not try anything special. For some reason, I am feeling pretty calm and relaxed,” said Al Musharrekh, who admitted he matured as a player after attending the David Leadbetter Academy in the United States as part of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation scholarship.
“I was there for two and a half year and that stint really improved my game,” said the pin up boy of UAE golf.
A new initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Tour is affiliated to R&A and the Arab Golf Federation. The six-stop tour, which is backed by Omega and Mercedes-Benz, boasts a combined prize fund of $325,000.
