Steven Brown believes this week’s Ras Al Khaimah, 2016 Golf Challenge will prove to be the most crucial tournament of his 2016 European Challenge Tour campaign.
Currently sitting in 52nd place in the Road to Oman Rankings, the Englishman is in need of a high finish if he is to secure a spot in the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final, where any player competing is in with a chance of securing a European Tour card.
With four top-15 and one top-20 finishes in his last six starts on Europe’s top developmental tour, the 29 year old comes to the Middle East knowing he is not far away from a season-making performance.
And with lots of points still to play for in the final two events on the 2016 Road to Oman, the man from Ashford is optimistic of delivering a strong showing at the inaugural Challenge Tour event in Ras Al Khaimah.
“I am booked to go home after this week, so if I can stay on for Oman that would be great,” he said. “I am basically playing in either Oman or Second Stage of Qualifying School, so this week could prove to be very crucial for me.
“I have been on a good run since Finland because I changed coach. I changed my coach three weeks before Finland, and then had a week off before that tournament so that I could get used to the changes.
“Since then my game is feeling in really good shape and I am feeling much more confident than I did at the start of the season – so am trying to make up for lost time. My bad shots are now not as bad, and my good shots are a lot better, so I am giving myself a lot more chances.
“I have also started to putt a lot better, which has always been the weakest part of my game, so it feels as though the hard work is starting to pay off. I noticed that a lot last week in China where two years ago I was awful on the greens – but I did a lot better in Foshan this season.
“Everyone I have spoken to has said that the course this week is really nice. They have told me it is really wide and long, which doesn’t suit me too much, but you still have to get it in the hole. Because I am playing well at the moment I feel that I can push on now and gain a few extra shots during each round.
“If I can pick up a few shots here and there that will hopefully mean I am in contention going into the weekend, rather than finishing between 10thand 20th.”
