PEPPER CUT
GOLF ENGLISH STAR’S AGONY
EddIE PEPPEREll fears a lack of common sense could wreck his US Masters dream.
The English ace was yesterday disqualified from the Qatar Masters for signing for a wrong score at the 17th.
World No.63 Pepperell, who had been looking to climb into the top 50 to qualify for Augusta next month, had signed for the correct overall score of 71.
But trying to correct an error on his card by a playing partner led to the mix-up which cost him his place in the field – and potentially at Augusta.
The 29-year-old, disqualified from November’s Turkish Airlines Open after running out of balls in the third round, wrote on Twitter: “My DQ today wasn’t due to
BY DALE RANKIN me running out of balls, instead, I signed for a wrong score.
“My total, 71, was correct and I indeed signed for that. However, my partner had me down for a five on one hole where I made a six, and a four on another, where I made three.
“I picked him up on it and I changed the card to reflect that I actually made a six on hole 11 as opposed to a five, and a three on hole 16 as opposed to a four.
“I then however mistakenly changed the 17th hole, not the 16th on my card, and handed
it in. Therefore this meant
I was disqualified. Quite disappointing as I took the time to change the original error, only to make a costlier one.
“The rules are the rules and I 100 per cent accept that but I can’t help feeling this way of disqualification is a fair distance away from common sense and that’s also disappointing.”
Dane Nicolai Hojgaard had a more enjoyable introduction to the new Education City course.
The 18-year-old bagged nine birdies and two bogeys in an opening 64 to lead by one shot from Holland’s Joost Luiten. Hojgaard, whose twin Rasmus won the Mauritius Open in December, said: “It was a good day. My putter was just on fire.”
Scott Jamieson and David Drysdale head the Scottish challenge in Qatar.
Robert MacIntyre is a shot back after a 68 but Stephen Gallacher and Connor Syme had 72s, while former champ Paul Lawrie slumped to a 76.
Meanwhile, a day after Scot Ryan Lumsden won his maiden title, the MENA Tour has been suspended the rest of their season due to fears over the coronavirus.
Lumsden will, however, play the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic on the PGA Tour as result of his victory at the Journey to Jordan2 event.
BURNLEY AND MAN UNITED NOT TO LOSE