Mohammedia, Morocco: With his confidence on a high following last week’s emphatic win in Rabat, Zane Scotland lines up in Royal Golf D’Anfa Open, the second event on the Mena Golf Tour on Tuesday, aiming for back-to-back wins.
Since the inception of the tour in 2011, no golfer has made it two on the trot though the Englishman is the only multiple winner on the tour with three titles under his belt. With Stephen Dodd and a host of emerging Moroccan players looming as the main dangers, Scotland would need to produce something special if he is to see off their challenge.
Despite all the hype around him, Scotland is taking a relaxed attitude into the tournament. “Winning gives you a little boost and maybe you play with a little more confidence. But I am not thinking too much in terms of results.
“The thinking is to stay calm and take things as they come. Last week I went into the event with no expectations and it’s the same mind set this week,” said Scotland, who finished runner-up to Dodd in the 2012 Mena Golf Tour Order of Merit standings.
“It’s quite a different course this week. If you’re hitting off the fairway you’ll find it difficult to make the green. Generally, the middle of the green is the right place because the greens are small and firm and you don’t need to do a lot to get close,” he added.
“I think the Moroccans would do well here because their local knowledge which will be quite handy on this course. And also Stephen Dodd is a world-class player and he if wins, the result shouldn’t surprise anyone,” he added.
Dodd, who shared the lead going into the final round of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Open last week, said: “Patience is the most important thing in the game of golf. Anything can happen in golf and you only need to believe that you can do it. Just focus on your game not your competitors. I’ve been playing well, but just haven’t converted opportunities,” said the Welshman who finished tied third last week.
In all 63 players, including 13 amateurs, will battle it out for honours in the second event on the tour, which carries a prize money of $50,000 (Dh183,700.
A new initiative by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the Mena Golf Tour is supported by Omega and Mercedes-Benz. It is affiliated to the Arab Golf Federation and the R&A — golf’s governing body — and boasts a combined prize money of $575,000, including $75,000 for the Tour Championship.
