Dubai: Sally Watson dramatically birdied her last hole to make the cut and keep her Rookie of the Year title hopes alive on day two of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club on Thursday.
The 23-year-old Scot recovered from a first-day four-over-par round of 76 to post a 70 on day two, leaving her two over par for the tournament at tied for 56th on the leaderboard.
Having opened with three birdies on her front nine, she returned with two bogeys, leaving her at three over par and on her way home, before a life-saving birdie on the final hole to make the cut.
Watson must now finish in the top-10 at least, while hoping Wales’ Amy Boulden falls well down the standings to overtake her rival for the Ladies European Tour Rookie of the Year award. Considering Boulden shot a 74 on the second day to go level par for the tournament at tied for 44th, everything is still to play for.
“That really was crucial,” said Watson of her birdie on the 18th. “Nobody likes to be sitting out the weekend. After that opening round my main goal was just to make the cut. I can’t win anything if I don’t make the weekend, especially with Amy having such a good first round. I knew I had to make the weekend to give myself a chance.
“Considering I have a limited chance of now winning the event, the rookie award is kind of a fun thing to play for on the weekend, so hopefully I can still do it.
“I will be more relaxed now [on Friday] having made the cut. There are some really good scores out there, so hopefully I can put two together to finish off the year.”
