Ewen Ferguson opens up on feeling 'added pressure' at his home club in Dubai

Ewen Ferguson may be more than 4,500 miles from home, but the Bearsden man has a small army of fans willing him to be the ‘local hero’ in this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Dubai-based Ferguson is attached to Emirates Golf Club, venue for the $9 million Rolex Series event, and admits that brings a bit of added pressure out on the magnificent Majlis Course.

“As well as being a member here myself, I know a lot of the members, so there a wee bit of added pressure,” he told The Scotsman in the UAE. “I know all the guys who work here as well. They all think you are good, so you don’t want to let them down (laughing).”

Ewen Ferguson walks with his caddie Lyle Phillips on day two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club | Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Twelve months ago, Ferguson led at the halfway stage before finishing 16th behind Tyrrell Hatton. After opening with rounds of 70 and 71 for a three-under-par total, he’s heading into the weekend with another chance to get his hands on the iconic Dallah Trophy.

“Yeah, I played really well yesterday,” he said of an opening effort that was illuminated by three birdies to finish. “Then this morning I felt sluggish to start as I was just knackered. I finished super-late yesterday, got back to the house at 6.30pm, had a quick dinner and tried to get as much sleep as I could.

“I didn’t have it at all on the front nine before playing a lot better on my back nine, which has a couple of tricky holes and, with the greens being so slick, I wasn’t really attacking the hole with too many putts.”

Earlier in the week, fellow Dubai resident Tommy Fleetwood talked about how the course is playing a lot tougher than when he paid a visit a fortnight ago. “Outside the tournament, I normally play here ten times a year,” said Ferguson. “It doesn’t sound a lot but, when you are away on tour, it is quite a lot.

‘It was all fun and games’

“I played here with (two fellow former Scottish internationalist) Paul Shields and Ross Kellett a fortnight ago and we were all making birdies. It was all fun and games. Then you play yesterday and can’t even hold some of the greens.

“But that’s why you are playing at this level and that’s how I’d want it to be as well. I think that’s what they do so well at these tournaments. It keeps your touch and mind really sharp.”

One of Ferguson’s big goals this year is to get in the mix for one of the ten PGA Tour cards up for grabs through the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, but he admits it’s about taking one short step at a time.

“You know what, I’m just trying to do things shot by shot,” he declared. “I know that probably sounds a bit silly, but I normally think ahead quite a lot. For instance, what a good finish this week would mean and I’ve discovered that doesn’t work for me.”

Ferguson will be joined in the final two rounds by Grant Forrest (one under) and Richie Ramsay (par), the latter making his first appearance of the new season.

Calum Hill agonisingly missed the cut on one over while there were also early exits for Connor Syme (three over), Scott Jamieson (four over) and David Law (nine over).