The fourth round of the Mena Golf Tour, the Sheikh Maktoum Dubai Open, begins on Monday with last year’s champion Zane Scotland playing down his status as favourite.
The Englishman has six victories on the tour to his name since 2011, including the 2013 staging at Al Badia Golf Club, but he dismissed the relevance of that success in relation to what is to come over the next three days.
“Golf is a great leveller,” Scotland said. “What has happened is history. It’s a new tournament and you have to play as well as you can and hope for the best.
“There’s no secret formula. The golf course is right in front of you. There’s no hidden secret out here. You’ve just got to go out there and play well.”
Scotland is returning to action after missing last week’s Dubai Creek Open, which was won by his compatriot Luke Joy, who was making his debut on the tour and will play again this week.
There are 26 amateurs in the 126-player field that includes Order of Merit leader Joshua White and previous Mena champions Jake Shepherd and Stephen Dodd.
James Allan, the leader of the amateur competition, is also playing.
In the Mena Division for the Sheikh Maktoum Golf Foundation Award, which recognises the performance of the region’s professionals and amateurs in each event, Morocco’s Faycal Serghini will look to recover lost ground after missing the cut at the Dubai Creek Open.
Among his rivals in the field for today’s first of three rounds will be the UAE’s Ahmed Al Musharrekh, who is aiming to build on his 14th place finish last week.
“It is just the beginning,” the Emirati professional said. “More success is right around the corner.”
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