Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson has stolen a march on his fellow Road to Mallorca graduates as he sits in 15th position on the DP World Tour Rankings after 11 events of the 2022 season.
The Scot picked up his first DP World Tour win – and indeed his first win as a professional – at last month’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, finishing one stroke clear of fellow graduate Chase Hanna at Doha Golf Club.
Ferguson, who graduated eighth on the Road to Mallorca Rankings in 2021, attained three runner-up finishes during last season’s Challenge Tour campaign, including one play-off defeat to Norway’s Espen Kofstad at the Sydbank Esbjerg Challenge, as he went close to securing his first piece of silverware since turning professional in 2016.
He was in pole position to break his duck at the Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa in March as he entered the final round with a four-stroke lead, however a closing round of 76 put paid to any hopes of success in Nairobi and the wait went on for Ferguson.
That wait, however, did not last long. Just three weeks later, the 25-year-old battled the windy conditions in the Qatari capital to post rounds of 67-71-73-70 to secure his maiden triumph.
"I just can't believe it at all. Years and years of hard work,” he said after victory was confirmed.
"My mum, dad, sister and brother and all my family gave me everything to try and get to this moment and it's an absolute dream come true.
"I think I've been in contention enough now on the Challenge Tour and out here at the start of this year a little bit, and I just managed to deal with it today.
"I'm obviously a winner now - it's incredible.”
Poland’s Adrian Meronk, who was also in contention in Qatar but ultimately finished two shots back in a tie for third place, is 16th on the Rankings, while Germany’s Hurly Long is 24th following his third place in Ras Al Khaimah and tie for second in Kenya.
American Hanna’s runner-up finish in Qatar helped him move up to 35th place on the DP World Tour Rankings while South Africa’s Oliver Bekker is the fifth and final 2021 graduate currently inside the top 50, following four top tens in eight starts this year.
