SCOT THREE PLACES AWAY FROM TOP-15 PROMOTION ZONE ON CHALLENGE TOUR

          ANDREW McARTHUR ... not happy with his driving. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

ANDREW McARTHUR'S CADDIE FLIES 

OUT FOR LAST TWO EVENTS 
EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS
With just two events to go, Andrew McArthur is within touching distance of the top 15 promotion zone on the European Challenge Tour Rankings, a position he knows all too well, ahead of the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic this week.
He heads to the Greg Norman-designed Almouj Golf The Wave fresh from a share of sixth place at the Foshan Open in China, although that result left him with mixed feelings, describing his swing as “horrific”.
Erratic form with the driver led to some high numbers throughout the four rounds at Foshan Golf Club, but some exemplary work with the putter made up for much of that - although his decision-making could have been better at times.
Exasperated by the occasional shot choice that cost him valuable places on the leaderboard, the Scot will hope that the arrival of his caddie for the final two weeks of the season will put him right, as he prepares to tee it up on a golf course he loves.
“I’m delighted with how I played last week as I was swinging it absolutely horrifically,” said the 35 year old former Scottish amateur champion from Windyhill, Glasgow, who moved up three places to 18th in the Rankings.
“I played some good stuff fighting my swing, but when you are doing that and trying to get in the mix, the pressure accentuates the “badness” of certain shots.
“I’ve got no idea where the driver is going at the moment, so I will need a miracle cure this week. I played half-decent here last year, but it is one of those courses where the wind gets up most afternoons. It is really hot and the course is brilliant, you’ve just got to keep your head.
“I had a couple of calamities last year that cost me a good finish, instead of just a decent one. I just need to play well and make good decisions. There’s nothing more to it, it is the same as every other week. It is criminal to have those big numbers, but when you’re playing well, you don’t do that.
“When it comes to doubles and triples, without doing anything different you can get those back to only a bogey.
"It just comes from not taking your medicine when you hit a bad shot, and not getting it back in play. Half the time when you chip out to 100 yards you get up and down to save your par anyway. 
"My caddie is coming out for the last two events, which should help.”
McArthur will be part of a star-studded field for the penultimate event of the season, which carries a prize fund of US $330,000, as the second tier welcomes back three-time winner Moritz Lampert for the final two tournaments.
The German picked up a trio of titles in just nine starts this campaign, and after a hard-earned automatic promotion to The European Tour, he returns in Oman to chase down Rankings leader Andrew Johnston, who will also tee it up in the Middle East.
Kazakhstan Open winner Sam Hutsby returns to action too, while Byeong-hun An will look to sign off a stellar season in style.