Pedro Oriol is targeting another good week at Al Hamra Golf Club as he aims to secure his European Tour status for next year at the Ras Al Khaimah 2017 Golf Challenge.
The Spaniard tied for fourth in last year’s inaugural staging of the tournament, birdieing the last hole and fist-pumping with passion as he secured his Challenge Tour status for 2017 at the 11th hour.
This year it has been a different story. A runner-up finish in Belgium preceded a maiden victory at the prestigious Rolex Trophy to take the 31 year old to 11th place in the Road to Oman Rankings with just two events to go.
The top 15 at the end of the season will graduate to the Race to Dubai and Oriol – just under 16,000 points ahead of Oscar Lengden in 16th place – knows that one good performance in the final fortnight of the campaign will be enough.
“Obviously there is a little bit of pressure,” he said. “I have to do what I always do and just focus on my game, play my best these next two weeks and see what it brings.
“I don’t know what is going to be the exact number. Obviously it’s impossible not to try to work out the number but 16th place is almost 16,000 points away from me so if it all goes like normal, we should be fine.
“I have to play my best and try to finish as high as possible, because my goal is not just top 15, it is to finish as high as possible in the Rankings – I am not trying to just stay in the top 15, I want to try to get higher up.
“I was tied for fourth last year so that’s good for me. I like the course, I think it’s good for my game, and obviously I need a good performance so I will do my best.
“I’m not too worried. I’m just going to be focussed on my game, I’m confident in my game and I know I can play very good golf on these two golf courses.”
After struggling to find his best form throughout the 2016 campaign, last year’s result in Ras Al Khaimah proved to be something of a turning point for the notorious big hitter.
With renewed confidence at being able to contend at this level under pressure, and the freedom to pick his own schedule, Oriol has looked like a different player this term, missing just four cuts and finishing in the top 20 on eight of his 16 outings.
“Obviously this year has been different,” he said. “I’ve had a good season and I added some points last week so now I’m looking forward to doing my best these next two weeks.
Last year was a tough season. I think I needed a tie for sixth here last year to keep my Challenge Tour card and I finished fourth so it was great.
“It was really, really important for me. If I had not finished fourth I would not have had any status this year, so that was huge for me. It allowed me to organise myself and play in all the tournaments I wanted, and that was key for the year I have now had.
“I made birdie on 18 and I really celebrated because I knew I needed a big week, it was my last chance, and I wasn’t sure what the leaderboard was so that birdie secured my Challenge Tour card and changed everything.
“I think last year when I was practising I thought it could be a great week for me and I think the same this year. We have to deal with the heat, but I think it’s a very good golf course for me, there’s plenty of birdies out there, and I think putting is going to be key – I’m just ready to enjoy myself.”
