Max Orrin returns to the scene of his career-changing maiden professional victory this week when the European Challenge Tour’s season finale takes place in Oman for the first time at the NBO Golf Classic Grand Final.
For the last two years, the stunning Almouj Golf, The Wave course in the Omani capital of Muscat has played host to the penultimate event of the season on Europe’s top developmental tour but, having grown to become one of the most popular tournaments of the year, it will take on a whole new significance this time out.
The top 45 players in the Road to Oman Rankings will arrive on the stunning coastline of the Middle Eastern nation all harbouring dreams of finishing in the top 15 and earning a place among many of the biggest stars in world golf on The European Tour.
The promotion of the event to become the prestigious Grand Final, which has seen the likes of Thomas Bjӧrn, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson pass through its gates, could have not have worked out better for Englishman Orrin.
The 21 year old announced his name on the European golfing stage last year with a stunning two-shot victory (see highlights below) which moved him from relative Challenge Tour obscurity to within two places of the all-important top 15.
The former Walker Cup player from Kent did not go on to clinch European Tour graduation but he once again enters the crucial season finale right in contention to finally make the step up to the big time, and he cannot wait to get going.
“I’m definitely excited about going back,” said the two-time Challenge Tour winner, whose most recent title came at the Made in Denmark Challenge in May. “Last year was a great achievement and a great experience for me. I learned a lot about myself in that situation and it helped my game and my confidence for the following season this year.
“Before that week I was just aiming to make the cut to secure a top 70 and a card for the following year on the Challenge Tour and then all of a sudden I was 17thgoing into the Grand Final with every opportunity to get a European Tour card, playing good golf too.
“Going back with a bigger prize fund, a lot more at stake, I’m looking forward to it and I can’t wait to get going really.
“A lot happens in the last event. I remember last year it was changing a lot, so I’m going to try not to think about it as much as I can and go into the week just trying to win the tournament and if not have a good finish.
“There’ll be a lot of excitement, my brother is coming out to caddie so I’m just raring to go and hopefully the course plays into my hands and I can get that win again.
“Last year it was probably one of the best if not the best course we played. It’s set up right on the coast, quite linksy, a really good course which is quite tight in places, especially on some of the par fives.
“Then of course there’s the wind as well. Last year it was really windy at the weekend so I think a lot of it is about controlling your ball, not spinning it too much and keeping the ball down, which is quite handy because I flight my ball quite low anyway. I’ve got the yardage book from last year and I’m bringing it out to get some memories back and hopefully use the same gameplan as last time.”
Orrin’s victory last year provided one of the stories of the season but a different story of crushing disappointment followed at the following week’s finale in Dubai, where he was one shot off the lead after the opening round before a quadruple bogey at the final hole in his third round put paid to his graduation hopes.
Now, he is hoping to make amends and book his place on The 2016 Race to Dubai, having picked up some European Tour experience earlier this season, and another good week in Muscat could well see him jump up from his current position of 21stin the Road to Oman Rankings, where he is just €8,569 behind John Hahn in 15thplace.
“I started really well at the Grand Final last year,” he said. “I was three under for the first round and in the top five – everything seemed easy after the previous week.
“Then I was cruising in the second round, got to the last hole and made a nine. It was kind of a shock because I hadn’t really hit many bad shots. On the one hand I was disappointed to throw it away but then with everything the week before and the position I was then in, I was happy as well as disappointed.
“I went to Qualifying School then and ran out of steam again, had a bad fifth round, but because I was on such a high I kind of got a little bit comfortable and you can’t do that out here otherwise it will punish you.
“I didn’t quite have it though and got very tired towards the end of the season, I threw some silly shots away but I learned a lot from that and had a good category for a few European Tour events at the start.
“Then I won in Denmark and I decided to play Challenge Tour for the year and try to get a full category on The European Tour for next year. I’ve played some big events and I’ve done alright in them, nothing special really, but I feel a lot more confident now going into the Grand Final after the last couple of weeks. Hopefully now I can get a good result.”
The enthralling battle to finish the season as the Challenge Tour Number One will reach a dramatic climax at the Greg Norman-designed coastal gem, as Road to Oman leader Sebastien Gros and second-placed Ricardo Gouveia lock horns again.
Both will tee off together in the final group during the first round, with the pairings ordered by ranking.
Meanwhile, for those who have not yet guaranteed their place in the top 15, everything is to play for with even the 45
th
placed player in the Road to Oman in with a chance of fulfilling their European Tour dreams with a big week in Muscat.
