DUBAI // As two titans of the European Tour battled for top honours at Emirates Golf Club, a player from the nether reaches of the world rankings was on a startling charge up the leaderboard.
Lasse Jensen’s seven-under 65 was the lowest score on Sunday at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, a late charge that gave him a share of third at the end of the tournament.
He rather stood out amongst illustrious company. Having missed the cut in his last four starts on tour, including last month’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the Dane is ranked No 382 in the world.
By close of play at the Majlis Course, he was just behind Sergio Garcia, who is world ranked 15, Henrik Stenson, No 4, and was tied with Tyrrell Hatton, No 23, a stroke ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick, No 31.
Not bad, given Jensen had been recovering from illness before he arrived here.
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“In Abu Dhabi, I had a fever, and then last week I was trying to recover,” said Jensen, who picked up €138,576 (Dh549,000) for his week’s work in Dubai.
“And then everything just clicked this week. Maybe it was a bit surprising that I actually played that well this week because I feel like my game was getting where I want it to be.
“I thought it would take a bit more time to get out of winter and get the rust out of the system.”
In contrast, Hatton’s tie for third was the latest in a fine run of form, in particular in events taking place in the UAE. The Englishman has now finished tied-third, second, eighth and 13th in his past four trips to Dubai.
“It’s been an incredible eight months for me,” said Hatton, whose lone win on tour to date was at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in the UK last October.
“I’m really happy with how this season started, and hopefully I can continue the good form.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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