US PGA TOUR SCHEDULE FOR 2013 IS ANNOUNCED

FROM THE SKY SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

The US PGA Tour schedule has been announced for next year - the last before it switches to a new format that will see the campaign start in autumn.

In total there will be 36 tournaments in the 2013 regular season with a further four for the FedEx Cup play-offs, concluding with the TOUR Championship on September 19-22.
"We are extremely pleased with the continued stability and strength of the schedule," US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.
"While the upcoming season is unique in that our traditional fall tournaments are shifting to the start of the 2013-2014 season, we are very excited about the change that will establish a definitive end to the Tour season at the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola."
There have been some minor changes, not least the Mayakoba Golf Classic being moved from its normal slot in February to the beginning of the 2013-2014 FedExCup season.
The PGA have also increased the number of FedEx Cup points on offer for winning the Puerto Rico Open, the Truth South Classic and the Reno-Tahoe Open from 250 to 300, a move made due to the three tournaments that clash with either majors or World Golf Championships.

US PGA Tour 2013 schedule:
January
4-7 Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Kapalua, Hawaii
10-13 Sony Open, Waialae, Honolulu, Hawaii
17-20 Humana Challenge, PGA West, La Quinta, California
24-27 Farmers Insurance Open, Torrey Pines, San Diego, California
31-Feb 3 Waste Management Phoenix Open, TPC Scottsdale, Arizona
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
February
7-10 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am, Pebble Beach, California
14-17 Northern Trust Open, Riviera, Los Angeles, California
20-24 WGC-Accenture Match Play, Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona
28-Mar 3 Honda Classic, PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
March
7-10 WGC-Cadillac Championship, Doral, Miami, Florida
7-10 Puerto Rico Open, Trump International, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 14-17 Tampa Bay Championship, Innisbrook, Palm Harbor, Florida
21-24 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill, Orlando, Florida
28-31 Shell Houston Open, Redstone, Houston, Texas
April
4-7 Valero Texas Open, TPC San Antonio, Texas
11-14 US MASTERS, AUGUSTA NATIONAL, AUGUST, GEORGIA
18-21 RBC Heritage, Harbour Town, Hilton Head, South Carolina
25-28 Zurich Classic, TPC Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
May
2-5 Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow, Charlotte, North Carolina
9-12 Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
16-19 HP Byron Nelson Championship, Las Colinas, Irving, Texas
23-26 Crowne Plaza Invitational, Colonial, Fort Worth, Texas
30-Jun 2 Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village, Dublin, Ohio
June
6-9 FedEx St Jude Classic, TPC Southwind, Memphis, Tennessee
13-16 US OPEN, MERION, ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA
20-23 Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
27-30 AT&T National, Congressional, Bethesda, Maryland
July
4-7 Greenbrier Classic, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
11-14 John Deere Classic, TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
18-21 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, MUIRFIELD, SCOTLAND
18-21 True South Classic, Annandale, Madison, Mississippi
25-28 RBC Canadian Open, Glen Abbey, Oakville, Ontario
August
1-4 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
1-4 Reno-Tahoe Open, Montreux, Reno, Nevada
8-11 USPGA CHAMPIONSHIP, OAK HILL, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK
15-18 Wyndham Championship, Sedgefield, Greensboro, North Carolina
22-25 The Barclays, Liberty National, Jersey City, New Jersey
30-Sep 2 Deutsche Bank Championship, TPC Boston, Norton, Massachusetts
September
12-15 BMW Championship, Conway Farms, Lake Forest, Illinois
19-22 Tour Championship, East Lake, Atlanta, Georgia
October
3-6 Presidents Cup, Muirfield Village, Dublin Ohio

DUNBAR GOLF CLUB TEXAS SCRAMBLE ON NOVEMBER 23

Dunbar Golf Club is going to host a Texas Scramble Open on Friday, November 23.

COMPETITION DETAILS 

CLICK HERE

DODD AND HARROLD SHARE LEAD ON SEVEN-UNDER 64 IN MENA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE MENA TOUR WEBSITE

By VIREN VARMA

AL AIN, Oct 29 – Stephen Dodd and William Harrold shot matching rounds of seven-under-par 64 to share the new course record on the opening day of the MENA Tour Championship at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club, Saudi Arabia today..
Both went bogey-free to move one shot clear of Wales' Craig Smith in windy conditions for golf which saw 25 players sign off with under par scores.
The Scottish duo of Callum Nicoll and Duncan Stewart headed the chasing pack, a further two shots adrift at four under, along with England's, Alex Christie and Dan Waite and Faycal Serghini of Morocco.
Dodd couldn't have asked for a better start that kept up his bid for back-to-back titles on the Tour. "I think I played really well. There are plenty of scoring opportunities out there.
"My round could have been a little better, but then I am very happy to be in this position. There is still plenty of golf to be played, but I am pretty satisfied with the way I am driving the ball. I think I did a lot of good things out there," said Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour.
The 46-year-old Welshman, currently placed second on the Order of Merit for Professionals behind England's Zane Scotland, needs to finish strongly if he aims to win the title of MENA Golf Tour number one.
Dodd's playing partner for the day, Scotland, however, stumbled to one-over 72 and would require something special to track down Dodd over the next two days.
"I just didn't strike the ball well and there was hardly any rhythm in my game," said Scotland, who is $3,637 (Dh13,347) ahead of Dodd in the Order of Merit standings.
England's Harrold felt staying cool on the course did the trick for him. "The course is playable. If you can keep the ball in play, you can come out with a good score," said Harrold, who made a blazing start to his round, reeling off three birdies in a row.
"It was a very good day. Once I got going I didn't miss many shots. I hit my irons solid and when I hit them close I made the putt," said the Englishman.
In the amateur division, Max Williams kept alive his chances winning the Order of Merit title with a 71, a roller-roaster round he later described as "awful."
"I didn't play well at all, especially on the front nine. I managed to pick up four birdies, two in each half, but overall it was a bad in the office. Simple as that," said the Englishman, who currently leads the Order of Merit table with 136 points, a good 14 points ahead of nearest challenger Michael Harradine of Switzerland.


FIRST-ROUND LEADERS

Par 71
64 Stephen Dodd (Wal), William Harrold (Eng)
65 Craig Smith (Wal)
67 Callum Nicoll (Sco), Alex Christie (Eng), Dan Waite (Eng), Duncan Stewart (Scot), Faycal Serghini (Mor)
68 Daniel Wardrop (Eng), Ross Canavan (Eng), Simon Dunn (Sco), Greg Nicolson (Sco), Tom Buchanan (Sco), Ian Keenan (Eng), Fredrik Quicker (Swe)
70 Yasin Ali (Eng), Dale Marmion (Eng), James Westwood (Eng), Matloob Ahmed (Pakistan), Cennydd Mills (Wal), Mohammad Munir (Pak), Max Williams (Eng) (am), Martin LeMesurier (Eng), Karim El Hali (Mor) (am).

SELECTED SCORES
71 Gavin Dear (Sco)
72 James Housby (Eng)), Michael Borrett (Eng), Zane Scotland (Eng)
73 Daniel Owen(Eng), Brian Lee (Wal).
74 Tyler Hogarty (Eng) (am).

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

CLACKMANNAN SEASON FINISHES

 With the announcement of the final placings in the last Clackmannan County events for 2012, the season draws to a close.     

The Harrower Trophy (decided on the aggregate of scratch scores in the County Spring, Summer and Autumn Meetings) was tied for the first time in its 42 year history with Dave Beaton and Allan Watson (both Braehead) returning aggregate scores of 224.  In the County Order of Merit, the final placings are as follows

1.  Darren Hulston (Dollar) 575 pts

2.  Allan Watson (Braehead) 335

3.   Scott Moffat (Braehead) 295

4.  Michael Robertson (Alloa) 290

5.  Jamie Aitken (Alloa) 285

6.  Dave Beaton (Braehead) 275

7.  Mike Rust (Braehead)   240

MIDLAND ALLIANCE ROUND UP

Clackmannan county golfers are still featuring in the Alliance events---- in the Scottish Alliance championship at Monifieth and Arbroath, Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart finished well up with an aggregate of 227  (75,76,76), while Alloa seniors Alan Glass and Ray Barton took handicap prizes.  

In the Midland Alliance's Downfield meeting, Alloa’s Michael Niven finished fifth equal in the handicap event and at Drumoig, Tulliallan’s Harry Salmond finished in a tie for third place.

WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS

End of season placings are Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 619  ( 19th in Scotland); Lawrence Allan  (Alva)  911  ( 26th in Scotland).  

In the Ladies rankings, Eilidh Watson (Muckhart) is on World 2492 equating to 31 in Scotland.

Lawrence now moves to college golf from the junior scene and local golfers will be wishing him every success.

CALLUM OFF TO SPAIN

Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay finished 52nd out of 210 in the Challenge Tour rankings. meaning a trip to the Stage 2 qualifying for the 2013 European Tour.   

Four venues in Spain will be used for the November 7 to 10 72-hole events with the best scores going to the final qualifying, also in Spain, where around 30 will win Tour cards for the 2013 season.   

Callum joins 14 other Scots and will play at the 6,901 yd par 71 El Valle golf course at Murcia.  

Best of luck!

AND FINALLY - GOLF TECHNOLOGY

Not so long ago, the leading driving distance on the US tour was just over 285 yards;  a present day professional hitting the ball 285 yards would be in 143rd position. 

     

GLOBAL GOLF POST:: MUST READ MONDAY

The October 29, 2012 issue of Global Golf Post is now available.  Please click here to view this week's issue.

In this week's issue:
Gear: Donald, Mizuno Mold New Irons And Wedges, 7
Bandon Dunes East In Canada?, 8
Matsuyama Vies For Third Asian Am, 15
Huizing Turns Pro, 16
Boyns Shines Equally As Caddie, Player, 19

GLOBAL GOLF POST is the world's first designed-for-digital weekly golf news publication. Intended for a global audience of very serious golfers, GLOBAL GOLF POST delivers news, information, and commentary about the competitive game of golf. The publication is offered for free.
GLOBAL GOLF POST is delivered overnight Sunday, fifty weeks per year. It is a comprehensive summary of professional and amateur golf as played the prior week. It also includes opinion and commentary from some of the world's best known golf journalists, timely coverage of new golf equipment, and credible travel feature writing.

HIDEKI MATSUYAMA VIES FOR THIRD ASIAN AM TITLE

By JOHN STEINBREDER
Taken from the GLOBAL GOLF POST

Though the Asian Amateur Golf Championship is about to be played for only the fourth time, at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand, this week, the nascent event already has quite a history. 
At least as far as 20-year-old Hideki Matsuyama (pictured) is concerned. Twice, the Japanese college student has entered the competition, and twice he has emerged as the winner. Those feats not only catapulted him into the upper reaches of the World Amateur Golf Rankings but also gave Matsuyama the chance to play in The Masters each of the last two years.

A student at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, he took good advantage of those opportunities, making the cut at Augusta National both times and winning the coveted Silver Cup for being low amateur in 2011 as he finished tied for 27th with Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Ian Poulter among others. 
All in all, it has been an impressive run for Matsuyama, who went on to win a tournament on the Japan Golf Tour after last year's Asian Am and was ranked for a spell as the No. 1 amateur player in the world.

It also means that it's no surprise he is among the favorites to win this year's Asian Am.

What that tournament might lack in legacy is more than compensated by the increasing quality of its field and the prizes that await the victor: entry to the International Final Qualifying for the Open Championship and an invite to The Masters. Winning it once is an accomplishment enough. But coming out on top twice is remarkable, and the fact that Matsuyama has been able to do that says a lot about his talent as well as his determination.

He spoke to that last attribute as he reflected at last year's Masters on his first Augusta experience.

“I had a strong feeling of wanting to come back to The Masters when I played in my second Asian Amateur,” Matsuyama said. “So from the very first day (of that tournament), I was very focused on my game.”

Matsuyama has demonstrated good focus throughout his young career. Taking his first Asian Am, in 2010 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club outside Tokyo, was evidence of that. Even more impressive, however, was his performance at his first Masters the following spring. That came just one month after a hurricane and tsunami ravaged his homeland, killing thousands of people. 
Though Matsuyama was out of the country at the time, he returned to Japan to find his college dorm trashed and the city of Sendai devastated. Matsuyama thought about staying home, but then decided to make the trip to Augusta.

“The people at my university who have suffered, and my teammates and parents who made me start the sport of golf have been supportive, so I decided to play The Masters, not only for myself but for the people who have made me who I am,” he said shortly after arriving at the club in April 2011. “The Masters, which has been my dream, is their dream, as well. Doing my best here is my obligation to them. I can only try and concentrate on golf, and hope that by playing well, I can encourage people back home.”

By his own admission, he played that first Masters with a very heavy heart. But he never seemed to affect his play. After becoming the only amateur to make the cut, Matsuyama shot a 4-under-par 68 the third day of the 2011 tournament. After posting a 74 on Sunday, he ended up with a 72-hole score of 287, which was 1-under par. It was the fourth lowest score for an amateur in Masters history.

Just under six feet tall and weighing a reedy 170 lbs., Matsuyama did not do quite as well in his second Masters.
 To be sure, he made the cut again and was only 1 over after three rounds in the 2012 event, and tied at that point with Rory McIlroy, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Geoff Ogilvy. But the taciturn Japanese player struggled on the last day, carding a disappointing 80 and finished two behind Patrick Cantlay in the competition for low amateur. Matsuyama had to settle instead for the Silver Medal for low amateur runner-up.

Matsuyama describes playing in The Masters as the biggest achievements in his golfing career. And though he has already been able to make the trip to Augusta twice as a competitor, he shows no signs of being any less excited about doing so again.

“I am really looking forward to winning again this time in Thailand,” he says, knowing a win there gets him back to The Masters for a third straight year.

Given the way he has played the past couple of years, there's no reason not to think he can pull it off.

RORY BEATS TIGER BY A SHOT IN CHINA EXHIBITION MATCH

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
Rory McIlroy outscored Tiger Woods for only the third time in 11 head-to-head clashes in China, winning their "Duel at Jinsha Lake" with a five-under-par 67 to the American's 68 today. 

The world's top two golfers met for a one-off match after competing in Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur.
The pair earned a reported $3 million (£1.87 million) between them for roughly 3hr 15min "work"- the highest-paid head-to-head in the history of the game.

McIlroy was runner-up to Ryder Cup team-mate Peter Hanson at the BMW Masters and Woods fourth behind compatriot Nick Watney in the CIMB Classic.

Three weeks after Woods defeated the 23-year-old by six strokes during the World Golf Finals in Turkey, it was McIlroy who always held the edge this time.

He had two early birdies and turned two in front before Woods chipped in at the short 12th, but the 14-major champion bogeyed two holes later and could not get back on terms.

"It was a pretty exciting day and the match was pretty close all day," McIlroy said. "I got off to a good start and had a little bit of advantage for the first few holes but then Tiger birdied a few on the back nine. All I was trying to do was to keep myself ahead and I managed to do that."

Despite his defeat, Woods hinted he would welcome further opportunities to go head-to-head against McIlroy in similar end-of-season exhibition matches.
"This certainly was not my usual way I spend Mondays but to have this many people come out and watch us play golf... was something special," Woods said.
"These events don't happen that often and it was just great to see everyone so excited to see us come here and excited to watch us play," the 14-time major champion added.
"So as far as doing something like this down the road, it would be fun.
"We're ranked one and two in the world respectively and to have matches like this to promote the game of golf is what it's all about."
Neither player is staying on in the country for this week's WGC-HSBC Champions at Mission Hills.
McIlroy, flying to Bulgaria to watch tennis girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, next plays at the Singapore Open next week, while Woods has one event left in 2012 – the World Challenge in California at the end of next month.

ROBIN WILSON'S NORTH NEWS ROUND-UP

The North District's young golfers spent a lot of their time during the October school break taking part in the North of Scotland Iunior open match-play championship at Forres Golf Club followed by the Inter-District youths' stroke-play event at Nairn.

It was the seventh year of the match-play championship, sponsored by Forres professional Sandy Aird.

The competitors at Forres play in age categories and Inverness provided three of the leading qualifiers for the match-play stages.

In the under-15 section Lewis Fraser (Loch Ness) had the leading net aggregate of 132 while Rory Franssen (Inverness) was the leading scratch qualifier with gross 150. In the under-18 age section Ben Anderson (Inverness) led the handicap qualifiers with net 132.

On the final green Euan Innes (Nairn Dunbar) won the overall handicap section after beating Keiran Mackay (Inverness) in the semi final and Hector Clarke (Moray) in the final. 

Inverness's Rory Franssen, following a semi final win over  Finlay Asher (The Nairn) in the semi final of the under-15 scratch match play group, lost the North District Cup in the final to winner at the 19^th hole, Sandy Scott (The Nairn).

Andrew Burgess (The Nairn) and Andrew Kenyon (Inverness) were semi-finalists in the under-18 scratch section where home member Mark Dingwall emerged with the Sandy Aird Cup from a 2 and 1 result over Adam Fisher (Inchmarlo) in the final.      

Dingwall, Jordan Milne (Elgin) and Rodger Clarke (Moray) then became the North's leading scorers, all 74, when the North Youth team won the triangular youth's invitational competition against the North-east and Angus districts at the Nairn Golf Club. The North team of eight with seven best scores counting totalled 535 to win by one shot from North-east. 

The other four North counting cards were provided by Jeff Wright (Forres) 75, Andrew Burgess (The Nairn) 76, Greg Forsyth (Inverness) 77 and Ryan Copland (Garmouth) 85. Forres's Ross Proctor's 89 was the discarded card.

A 72 from Sam Kiloh (Porthlethen) was the best individual score of the day, and he was followed into the individual listings by North-east's Ray Gordon (Alford) with 73, then Ross Dallas from Kirriermuir, also 73, the best score from an Angus youth.

Angus slumped to a 560 aggregate behind North (535) and North-east (536).

 Left to right: Alan Cameron, Christine Thomson, Ewan Forbes and Robert McKerron (North District president).

Inverness GC secretary first time winner of new North Trophy

Inverness Golf Club secretary Ewan Forbes became the first winner of the Robin Thomson Trophy when he won the North District's invitational match-play championship over The Nairn golf course.

This was the first time the district has staged a match-play championship and their decision was prompted by the death in October last year of Robin Thomson (Forres), a golfer and teacher who had given many years of valiant service to the North Executive, both on and off the course.

After the decision to purchase the trophy in memory of their 1980 season champion the eight leading players in this season's stroke play championship, played at Inverness in May, were invited to take part in the knock-out event which ran through the summer months, the players arranging their own ties at neutral or mutually agreed venues.

Inverness's Forbes arrived in the final after eliminating Thurso's Dougie Thorburn in round one, then his Inverness clubmate Bryan Fotheringham in the semi final. 
Alan Cameron, fresh from his scratch success the previous day in the North Scottish Alliance fixture at Grantown on Spey, completed the final line-up.

Cameron, the Ross-shire county champion from Fortrose and Rosemarkie,  made his way to the final by eliminating the District stroke play champion, Bruce Thomson (The Nairn),  in round one, then Neil McWilliam (Elgin) in his semi final.

The finalists were very familiar with each others' game, having been foursomes partners over many years and Cameron a former Inverness member, so it was no surprise the tie was evenly matched, neither player ever holding more than a one-hole advantage through the first 17 holes. 

On the final tee they were all square but after Cameron drove into a fairway bunker Forbes emerged a one hole winner with a par 5.

North Scottish Alliance at Grantown on Spey.

Fortrose and Rosemarkie golf club members have been prominent in the first three North Scottish Golfer's Alliance fixtures and at Grantown on Spey the Ross-shire club provided the  scratch winner.

Their Ross-shire county champion, Alan Cameron,  closed with an eagle at  Grantown  to add to four previous birdies. With a three under par scratch card of 67, Cameron finished two shots ahead of Moray assistant professional Andrew Rollo and amateurs John Campbell (Grantown on Spey)  and Robbie Stewart (Torvean).

 Stewart's clubmate Michael Lyall recorded a net 65 off 12 of a handicap to win the high handicap section.

 LEADING SCRATCH SCORES AT GRANTOWN

67 R.A.L. Cameron (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)

69 A.G. Rollo (Moray), J.S.D. Campbell (Grantown), R.H. Stewart (Torvean)

70 B. Cruickshank (Spey Bay), S. Wilson (Inverness), D. Hector (Elgin), P. Masson (Rothes)

71 S. Johnston (Elgin), K. Barnett (Torvean), K. Thomson (Moray), R. Harrower (Boat of Garten)

 72 D. Thom (Grantown), R. McKerron (Forres)

73 G. Hay (Grantown), J. Simpson (Forres)

74 N. McWilliam (Elgin), A.J. England (Moray), J.A.G. Innes (Elgin), D. Macleod (Grantown)

75 T. Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar), G. Mackenzie (Moray), L. MacBean (Boat of Garten)

76 A. Hutchison (Torvean), F. Hutchison (Inverness), A.A. Lees (Moray)

77 M. Douglas (Inverness), M. Lyall (Torvean), K. Williamson (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), W. Hutchison (Inverness), A. Jackson (Rothes)

78 A. Waterson (Boat of Garten), M. Windsor (Fortrose and Rosemarkie), J.K. England (Moray), W. Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie)

79 S. Duncan (Moray), S. Mullen (Elgin), V. Tilman (Muir of Ord), A.P. Thomson (Inverness)

HANDICAP

Class 1 (seven and under)

63 P Masson (Rothes) (7)

65 R H Stewart (Torvean) (4)

66 K. Barnett (Torvean) (5)

67 S. Johnston (Elgin) (4), D Macleod (Grantown) (7), D. Thom (Grantown) (5) 

Class 2 (eight to 14)

65 M Lyall (Torvean) (12)

66 L. MacBean (Boat of Garten) (9)

67 A. Jackson (Rothes) (10), F Hutchison (Inverness) (9), M. Windsor (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (11), A.A. Lees (Moray) (9)

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE VENUE SWITCH

Wednesday's North-east Alliance competition, scheduled for McDonald Golf Club, Ellon, will now be played at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club because of the wet condition of the Ellon course and the possibility of further rain.
The tee times arranged for the Ellon venue will apply at Newburgh.

MENA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR THRILLING FINISH TO SEASON

By viren.varma

AL AIN, Dubai: With a host of players firmly in the hunt, the battle for the title of MENA Golf Tour Number One promises to go down to the wire when the season-ending Tour Championship gets under way at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club today.
The ‘big bonus' of winning golden tickets to the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic has further ratcheted up the level of excitement in the field that has been whittled down to top 40 professionals and 15 leading amateurs from their respective Orders of Merit.
There is everything is play for in the final event which carries a prize fund of $75,000 (Dh275,500), including the $13,500 purse for the winner, but if the current form in any indication, Stephen Dodd, the winner of last week's Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, could pose a serious threat to his nearest challengers.
With his short game in great shape, Dodd, at present placed second on the Order of Merit, will make his run, attempting to become the first back-to-back winner on the Tour and end his campaign with a flourish.
"Golf is all about results and I got the one I wanted in Dubai. We must be doing things right if we get the results," said Dodd, a three-time winner on the European Tour, who would require to finish well ahead of England's Zane Scotland if he aims to topple the current Order of Merit leader.
With one win and two runner-up finishes under his belt from the first five events on the tour, Scotland admitted he needs an extra spring in his game if he is to ensure he stays on top. "I need to maintain focus and play sensibly, and see what happens," said Scotland, who beat Dodd to second place to win the Dubai Creek Open, the tour's opening event this season.
Lurking ominously behind the two former European Tour players is the Pakistan duo of Mohammed Munir and Shafiq Masih, who could turn the script upside down with their aggressive style of golf.
"Our goal is to finish among the top three on the Order of Merit and win a place in the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Which is why we are here. If that happens it would be great not only for us, but for Pakistan golf as a whole," said Shafiq, who announced his arrival on the tour with a thrilling playoff win in Saudi Arabia.
Munir, the winner of the Ras Al Khaimah Classic, had his chances to seal a back-to-back win last week, but felt let down by his putter. "I didn't putt that well on the final day. But whatever has to happen has happened. I am taking a relaxed attitude into the Tour Championship, hoping things will fall into place," said Munir, who is paired with Dodd and Scotland for the opening two rounds.
The race for the leading amateur is also shaping up as an intense battle with England's Max Williams moving marginally ahead of compatriot Tyler Hogarty and Switzerland's Michael Harradine after the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open.
"Now I have the lead and know what I have to do in Al Ain. I am pretty good in focusing on the job at hand," said Williams, who is 14 points ahead of Harradine and 19 off Hogarty.
The top three professionals and the leading amateur from their respective Orders of Merit will receive special invitations to compete in the 2013 Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the longest-running European Tour event outside the continent.

A new initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour is affiliated to R&A and the Arab Golf Federation. The six-stop tour, which is backed by Omega and Mercedes-Benz, boasts a combined prize fund of $325,000.