David Shacklady remains in contention to be crowned Staysure Tour Number One in just his second season ahead of the MCB Tour Championship.
The season-ending Championship gets under way at the inaugural MCB Tour Championship – Madagascar from November 29 – December 1, the 46th country the Staysure has ventured to since 1992, highlighting the global appeal and growth of the game in emerging markets.
The Englishman will head to the world’s fourth-largest island in fifth place on the Order of Merit, 366 points behind Rankings leader Phillip Price, following his wins at The Sinclair Invitational and the Druh Belts presents Paris Legends Championship by Renault Z.E. in September.
With the chance to win the Staysure Tour Order of Merit and play at some of the most picturesque golf courses in the world, Shacklady cannot wait for the MCB Tour Championship to get under way.
“It’s somewhere that you only see on holiday programmes and I never thought it would be somewhere that I’d go and play golf,” he said.
“I’m excited to be going back to the Indian Ocean, especially as I’m right up near the top on the Order of Merit at the business end of the year. It’ll be totally different to last year with that scenario on the line, plus I’ve been before and I know what the courses are like at Constance Lemuria and Constance Belle Mare Plage. They are such special places.
“Winning the Order of Merit is on my mind but I’m treating it as a great reward to have the chance to compete for it at the end of the year. Pricey is going to take a bit of catching, so I will need to have three really good weeks because he’s always at the top. I don’t have any expectations for it and I’m just going out to the Indian Ocean to enjoy the occasion.”
The three-time Staysure Tour winner made his MCB Tour Championship debut 12 months ago during his rookie season which saw him crowned VTB Russian Open Golf Champion. He ended the campaign with tied 17th and 18th finishes in Mauritius and Seychelles, respectively, resulting in 11th place on the Order of Merit.
“I thought last year would be hard to top as my rookie year when I exceeded my own expectations,” Shacklady said. “To win twice this year and to end the season in a better position in the Rankings, hopefully inside the top ten and securing a spot in the two Senior Majors in America next year, it means I’ve got absolutely nothing to lose, so I can go to the MCB Tour Championship and enjoy it and see what happens.”
