There’s an UP shot for David
Drysdale gets card boost as pair out of race
DAVID DRYSDALE has been handed a huge boost heading into the Dubai Championship today after Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed were ruled out of the Race to Dubai.
The Scot arrived at the Jumeirah Estates for his final event of the regular season lying 123rd on the money list, two places outside of the leading 121 at the end of this week who’ll retain automatic membership for 2022.
The Borders golfer dropped out of the automatic qualifiers in missing the cut in last week’s Portugal Masters ahead of teeing up on the Fire course.
But late yesterday, Garcia – who was 43rd on the Race to Dubai – and Reed, at 49th, were removed from the standings for failing to satisfy certain Tour criteria.
In Garcia’s case, he did not play in any home events in his native Spain in 2021.
The pair will be allowed to tee up next week in the DP World Tour Championship but any money earned will not count on the Race to Dubai overall standings. It means Drysdale, who has retained his Tour card every season since 2009, has been given a massive lift heading into today’s opening round.
He’s now up to 121st in the money list and right on the now expected cut-off mark to retain his privileges.
Drysdale said: “I came here earlier in the week half feeling I wasn’t too worried, having made nine of my last 13 cuts but without really doing anything given I’ve had ample opportunities.
“I missed the cut last week and a lower back twinge had me withdrawing from the Mallorca Open, while this week is all about getting my head down to get a result. And I know now, given the news on Wednesday afternoon, I don’t need a lot to get over the line and hold on to my card and retain that safety net.”
The withdrawal of Garcia and Reed has also lifted Scott Jamieson’s Race to Dubai aspirations.
Florida-based Jamieson has again clocked more air miles than any Scot and now, up two spots to 113th, he still needs to finish higher in this week’s final event if he’s to be playing in the Middle East at the start of next year and qualify for July’s Scottish Open
Jamieson said: “I’ve been here to Jumeirah before for the DP World but I didn’t play this week’s event last year. If I win the Dubai Championship I should qualify for next week.
“But my main goal is to boost my 113th ranking, so I will hopefully qualify for Abu Dhabi and Dubai next year, while 115 on the money list was the cut-off point for entry into the Scottish Open.”
Seven other Scots are in the Dubai field headed by top-ranked Oban golfer Robert MacIntyre.