Ahmed Al Musharrekh: UAE’s first pro golfer discusses his 2015 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship form

Al Musharrekh, the UAE’s first professional golfer, signed for a second-round 77 yesterday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which left him 11-over par, some distance from making the cut. John McAuley reports

Emirati golfer Ahmed Al Musharrekh on the National Course at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Delores Johnson / The National

Ahmed Al Musharrekh, the UAE’s first professional golfer, signed for a second-round 77 on Friday at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, which left him 11-over par, some distance from making the cut.

Making the step up

After graduating from the amateur ranks in September 2012, Al Musharrekh was playing the European Tour event for the third time and fared better than past performances, improving by seven strokes from last season.

Abu Dhabi details

After a first-round 78 that included one birdie, five bogeys and a double, Al Musharrekh returned to the National Course yesterday needing to go low to stay around for the weekend. He bogeyed three of the first four holes, before bouncing back with a birdie on the 8th. Three more bogeys on the back nine meant he came back in 39.

On putting woes

“I didn’t get the result I wanted, unfortunately,” he said. “I’m definitely not happy about my putting. I played the Mena Tour this season and the greens were really slow there, whereas the greens are rolling very fast here so there’s a huge difference as far as pace is concerned. Greens are not usually like this when you practise anywhere, so that’s a big thing that I need to learn how to adapt to.”

On his scrambling

“It’s just about learning how to play when I’m not 100 per cent,” he said. “That’s what I’m going through right now. When I’m on, I’m on and I go. But sometimes, if I’m a bit off on one part of my game, everything else crumbles. That comes with experience and I’m excited about the future.”

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