Stephen Dodd looking to strike early form as Mena Golf Tour arrives in Morocco
Surrounded by both opportunity and positive energy, Stephen Dodd, the winner of 2012 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title, will be looking to strike early form when the tour travels to Morocco for the first time for opening two events on its schedule, starting next week. The three-time winner on the European Tour will be joined by a growing army of talented players from around the world in a highly-competitive field as he attempts to replicate last year’s success and become the first player to win back-to-back Order of Merit titles.
The 47-year-old Welshman will have his work cut out with the likes of Zane Scotland, a former European Tour player and winner of the Dubai Creek Open last year, and Jake Shepherd, who took the Tour’s Order of Merit title in the inaugural year 2011, entering fray to add perceptible strength and depth to a field which wears a global look.
“There are good players on every tour now. Wherever we win, it’s a confidence boost and shows we must be doing things right if we get the results,” said Dodd who won the Nissan Irish Open and the Volvo China Open, both in 2005, and the Smurfit Kappa European Open a year later.
“I hope I can do it again and win a place in the 2014 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. It will be great fun to part of the tournament’s 25th anniversary celebrations next year,” said Dodd, who himself came agonizing close to inscribing his name on the Classic trophy before settling for the runner-up place to South Africa’s Ernie Els in 2005.
“The Desert Classic is that carrot we are all after. This is the reason I have signed up again. I can tell from experience, the standard of play on the tour is pretty good and you have to play really well to achieve success,” said Dodd, who raked in one win, two seconds, one top-five and a tied 18th finish to top the 2012 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit standings with $27,636 in earnings from five events.
The top three professionals and the leading amateur from their respective Orders of Merit will receive special invitations to compete in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the longest-running European Tour event outside the continent. The top professional will also earn a ticket to the Hassan II Trophy, another European Tour event in the region.
“It’s great see European Tour stalwarts like Stephen and Zane continue to support the tour which provides professionals and amateurs with a competitive environment to advance their careers. If you look at the entries, players from different parts of the world have signed up, underlining that fact that the tour has managed to create its own niche in the world of golf in just two years,” said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of the MENA Golf Tour.
“I know invitations to play in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and the Hassan II Trophy are one of the biggest incentives for players, especially for the experienced, and I do hope organizers of the other European Tour events in the region will come forward and offer similar spots. Their gesture will further add to the excitement.
Whatever the outcome, exposure to these tour events will certainly motivate them to put extra effort in their game, which is what we want to see,” he added.
A superb new imitative by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the third edition of the tour comprises 11 events, including new stops in Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Affiliated to the R&A and the Arab Golf Federation, MENA Golf Tour is supported by Omega as the Official Timekeeper and Mercedes-Benz as the Official Car Sponsor.
Pic caption:
Stephen Dodd, winner of the 2012 MENA Golf Tour Order of Merit title, with Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, head of the Arab Golf Federation, and Mohamed Juma Buamaim, chairman of MENA Golf Tour
