By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
David
Law admits it might sound “strange” for him to be “excited” to be back
on the Challenge Tour, but he’s not only hoping it will be a brief
return but can also help him become a DP World Tour winner again.
In
his first event on the newly-rebranded Hotel Planner Tour since losing
his main tour card at the end of last season, the Aberdonian finished
joint-fifth in the SDC Open at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa in Limpopo
on Sunday.
Law, who closed with a nine-under-par 63, described it as a “nice way to
start off the year” and will now be aiming to build on that effort in
three more events in South Africa, starting with this week’s MyGolfLife
Open at Pecanwood Golf & Country Club in Hartbeespoort.
“I’ve
got four weeks in South Africa and my mindset is really good,” said the
33-year-old, who, helped by winning the Scottish Challenge in Aviemore,
graduated from the Challenge Tour at the end of the 2018 season before
landing his maiden DP World Tour win in the ISPS Handa Vic Open early
the following year.
“I
finished last season feeling really disappointed with how the regular
season finished and to then not get my card at the Q-School was
disappointing. But, at the same time, it kind of spurred me on to work
hard over the past few weeks. Look, I am excited, to be honest, which
sounds strange being back on the Challenge Tour.
“However,
it’s an opportunity for me to try and improve and, fingers crossed,
spend a bit more time in contention and just get a little bit better at
competing again.
“It’s
tough to get in contention on the main tour, so you don’t get the
opportunity very often to be competing. Obviously it can be tough out
here as well, but I am trying to look at it as positively as I can.”
Meanwhile,
Scott Jamieson is hoping he can use a brace of top-ten finishes in his
first four starts on the 2025 DP World Tour schedule to get in the mix
for a PGA Tour card.
“Same
as always,” replied the Florida-based player to being asked about his
goals for this year after backing up a tie for ninth in the AfrAsia Bank
Mauritius Open just before Christmas with a share of eighth spot in the
Ras Al Khaimah Championship on Sunday.
“To
keep improving and, if you play well, it opens so many doors. Everyone
out here has lofty goals of getting one of those ten (PGA Tour) cards
but you can’t get them in January of February. You’ve just got to take
every day as they come.”
Jamieson
is teeing up in this week’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship then
the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the event which saved his DP World
Tour card at the end of the 2023 campaign.
“It
is always nice to play with the sun on your back and I’m not afraid to
play in a little bit of wind either so, yeah, it is usually a good spot
for me,” said the 41-year-old of his record in the Middle East.
