Once the euphoria abated when Richard Bland won for the first time after two decades on tour and 477 previous attempts last season, he had a neat reminder as to what is left for him to aim for.
To give it its official title, Bland won the British Masters hosted by Danny Willett last May. Since the tournament returned to the DP World Tour in 2015, a leading light of British golf has had the chance to “host” it each year, at a course of their recommendation.
Willett’s career remains defined by winning the Masters in 2016. For Bland, just playing at that competition remains a career ambition.
Now, given the remarkable Indian summer Bland is enjoying, he is in with a shot at qualifying to play at the Augusta National.
The Englishman turns 49 on Thursday’s opening day at the Ras Al Khaimah Championnship presented by Phoenix Capital.
Having just missed out on winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic after a play-off with Viktor Hovland on Sunday, he is up to No 53 in the world rankings. Those inside the top 50 the week before the Masters qualify to play.
“If I could play at Augusta that would be a dream come true,” Bland said, on the eve of Al Hamra Golf Club’s DP World Tour debut.
“Of course the goal now is to reach the top 50. You want to get as high as you can. We’re looking to trying to get some invites in America because after these two weeks in Ras Al Khaimah we don’t have any tournaments on the DP World Tour for a couple of weeks.”
Because Covid issues led to the postponement of the Qatar Masters, Ras Al Khaimah will host a second tournament immediately after its first.
For many players, including Bland who played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai previously, it means a month-long stay in the UAE.
Al Hamra will pose a different challenge to those faced at Yas Links and Emirates Golf Club in January. Although a large portion of the field have not yet played the course in competition, expect scoring to be low.
Al Hamra Golf Club: a hole-by-hole guide
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Hole 1, Par 4, 373 yards. A gentle start, with a potentially a driveable par 4 due to the wind direction, which is normally assisting. Well-placed approach bunkers protect the run up to the green. All Photos: Al Hamra Golf Club -
Hole 2, Par 4, 416 yards. A narrow par 4, requires an accurate tee shot. The approach can be tricky to a two-tiered green. -
Hole 3, Par 5, 576 yards. The course’s signature hole with the Waldorf Astoria hotel as the backdrop. A reachable par 5 for the brave who take the aggressive line from the tee. There is water right, sand left from the tee. Certainly one to make the players think, particularly with a small green surround by water. -
Hole 4, Par 3, 163 yards. There is an early opportunity for birdie on this short par 3. -
Hole 5, Par 4, 355 yards. This is almost reachable with the right wind direction. Otherwise, a placed lay up will give you a short wedge into an undulating green. -
Hole 6, Par 4, 443 yards. A long par 4. Long hitters may try to carry the left hand bunker. If not, it will require a mid iron into a large target. Distance control is key on the approach as some tricky pin positions. -
Hole 7, Par 3, 166 yards. A tricky short hole as it can be hard to gauge the wind. For front pin positions, tee shots can end up in the front bunker. -
Hole 8, Par 5, 607 yards. Very long, and will require three shots to get to the green for most players. There are thick bushes on the right hand side from the tee. A back right pin position provides a tricky approach with run off into the bunker. -
Hole 9, Par 4, 479 yards. The start of the hardest stretch of the course, players will be looking to hold onto a good start here. A long par 4, it will require a mid to long iron approach to a small and typically firm green. -
Hole 10, Par 4, 455 yards. The hardest hole on the golf course. The lagoon runs the length of the fairway on the left. Rough on the left of the fairway may save a few from the water. It requires a long approach shot, over water and sand into a left to right sloping green. Par is always a great score. -
Hole 11, Par 3, 189 yards. A cracking par 3. A shallow green from an elevated tee makes club selection key and distance control hard in the wind. -
Hole 12, Par 4, 486 yards. The second hardest hole on the course. A good tee shot to the left half of the fairway is key to playing this hole well, and to avoid the water that runs the right side of the hole. -
Hole 13, Par 4, 353 yards. The 13th and 14th provide a respite before a tricky finish. The 13th plays similar to the first: if the wind direction is helping some players may have a go at the green. There may be plenty of birdies on this one. -
Hole 14, Par 5, 582 yards. The easiest par 5 on the course, provides another great scoring opportunity. A solid drive could give you a long iron into the green. The deep greenside bunker may catch a few out. -
Hole 15, Par 3, 215 yards. The strongest par 3 on the course. A well-protected green with run offs both sides into bunkers. Certainly avoid going long. -
Hole 16, Par 4, 439 yards. A good looking tee shot to a narrow fairway, with bunkers left and desert right. A good drive will leave a fairly straightforward approach to a two-tiered raised green. -
Hole 17, Par 4, 453 yards. Another long, straight par 4 at over 450 yard. It can be tough to get close to front pins, with a large bunker short, and a downslope between the bunker and green. -
Hole 18, Par 5, 576 yards. A fantastic Par 5 to finish. The prevailing wind is straight into which brings any miss-hit tee shots into danger of the water on the right. Three shots for most will be safe. Those who have the opportunity to hit fairway wood in will have to factor in the intimidating water. The further you hit down, the more the water can creep in.
When Jordan Smith won the RAK Golf Challenge there on the Challenge Tour in 2016, he did so with a finishing total of 20-under par.
“I think it’s going to be a low scoring week, you need to get the foot down pretty quick around here,” Bland said.
“We’ve got great hotels that we’re staying in, the weather’s great. It’s great that we can be out here.
“The Tour have done an unbelievable job getting the tournament on here next week too, with the obstacles we’ve got with the pandemic.”
Bland and Willett will be playing together, with Rasmus Hojgaard completing their 12.40pm three-ball, and the former Masters champion agrees scoring will be low.
“It’s generous in places, tightens up a little bit around the greens on a few holes,” Willett said.
“A lot of it will depend on the weather. If we get [fine and still] weather like this for the four days I think you’re going to see some pretty low scores out there.
“It’s a new addition, an hour down the road from Dubai which makes for easy travel for the lads and it should be a good week.”
The first match out on course at the tour’s newest destination will include Sebastian Heisele, the German professional who grew up in Dubai.
Ahmad Skaik, the UAE’s No 1, is also set for two more weeks of DP World Tour events. The left-hander will begin the first of the back-to-back tournaments in RAK at the 10th tee, starting at 7.20am.
