Road to Ras Al Khaimah Number Seven Philipp Mejow believes Izki Golf, the venue for this week’s Challenge de España, suits his game and is relishing a tilt at a maiden European Challenge Tour title.
The German finished tied fifth at the Urturi venue last year and has enjoyed a good start to 2018, namely a third placed finish at the season-opening Barclays Kenya Open in March.
Hailing from Berlin, Mejow signed for a sublime third round 64 in Nairobi to move right into contention.
However, a closing 71 meant Road to Ras Al Khaimah Number One Lorenzo Gagli and Swede Jens Fahrbring drew clear of the pack and entered a play-off, which Italian Gagli won on the third extra hole.
Mejow carded four sub-70 rounds of 69-68-68-67 during the week and the 30 year old is looking forward to taking on the Seve Ballesteros designed course this week.
“It’s good to have a long fade from the tee in Spain,” he said. “It suits my tee shots pretty well and I think that was the key last year.
“At the end, you can’t force it. You’ve just got to get in the zone, get your putts dropping in and enjoy yourself out on the course.
“You have to control your shots more in Spain compared to Turkey last week. There are a few holes where you have to start it left and then curve it back.”
The German’s tied third finish in Kenya is his best Challenge Tour result to date and that is courtesy of some hard off-season work with his coach, according to the man himself.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” he said. “I finished third in Kenya, played well in China, despite my putter being a bit cold, and I’m pretty happy with my form at the moment.
“I practiced a lot during the off season and practiced a lot with my coach. I didn’t change too much this winter; I changed a little bit of my technique, but I mostly worked on shot shaping.
“That was the key coming into this year. My game was really good in Kenya – I couldn’t manage to win but I was close to it.”
And on the eve of the fourth Challenge Tour event of the season, Mejow is hoping to get to grips with a new driver after his old one snapped before last week’s Turkish Airlines Challenge.
“I had to change my driver because my old one broke so I’m still trying to find out how to hit it straight,” he said.
“It goes far but it sometimes goes in the trees and in the water, which isn’t the way to score low!”
