Pepperell eliminated after scorecard error

Englishman disqualified from Qatar Masters in bizarre manner

Eddie Pepperell believes the manner of his disqualification from the Qatar Masters was “a fair distance away from common sense” as his hopes of qualifying for the Masters took a major blow.

Pepperell recovered from a slow start to card an opening level-par 71 at Education City Golf Club in Doha, only to be disqualified for signing for a lower score than he had taken on the 17th.

The 2018 champion’s overall score was correct, but a second disqualification in his last six European Tour events left Pepperell struggling to secure a place in the year’s first major at Augusta National.

Pepperell began the week ranked 63rd in the world and needs to be inside the top 50 after the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on March 30.

The 29-year-old, who was 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 me running out of balls, or hitting anyone, 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 5 on one hole where I made a 6, and a 4 on another, where I made 3.

“I picked him up on it and I changed the card to reflect the fact I actually made a 6 on hole 11 as opposed to a 5, and a 3 on hole 16 as opposed to a 4.

“I then, however, mistakenly changed the 17th hole, not the 16th hole on my scorecard, and handed it in. Therefore this meant I was disqualified.

“Quite disappointing as I actually took the time to change the original error, only to make a costlier one myself. I asked the referee if this had any bearing on my disqualification but it didn’t.”

Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard also enjoyed the new venue following a switch from Doha Golf Club, the 18-yearold carding nine birdies and two bogeys in an opening 64 to lead by one shot from Holland’s Joost Luiten.

Leading Scot is Scott Jamieson on four under par while Aberdeen pair Richie Ramsay and David Law are one under.

Drumoig’s Connor Syme and Stephen Gallacher are one over – one shot ahead of Grant Forrest.

Paul Lawrie carded a five-over 76 and Calum Hill an 80.

● Defending champion Francesco Molinari has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back injury.

Molinari carded a brilliant closing 64 at Bay Hill last year to claim a two-shot victory, but the winner of the 2018 Open Championship has not recorded a single top-10 finish since a tie for fifth in the Masters last April.

The 37-year-old Italian has slipped from a career-high of fifth to 26th in the world rankings.

Shutterstock. Eddie Pepperell was disqualified from the Qatar Masters.