Dubai: Defending champion and record three-time winner Shanshan Feng is unperturbed despite carding her second worst score in 17 rounds in Dubai on day one of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.
The only time the 27-year-old Chinese — who is tied 31st — has hit higher than Thursday’s level par 72 was 12 rounds ago on the opening day of the 2013 edition of the tournament when she hit four over par 76.
That occasion was the only time in four appearances in Dubai (since 2012) where she didn’t win the tournament. But she still went on to record a top five finish. And the fact she still salvaged something from 2013 gives her hope of turning things around this time as well.
“I’m always going for top five and even though this wasn’t a super good round today I still thought it was OK and there are still two more days, so why not?” she replied when asked if she could turn things around like 2013.
“I’ve had so many good memories here on this course and most of the time I’m a player that starts slow then gets better and better.”
Of her opening round, where she carded three birdies and three bogies, she added: “My ball striking was very good, I had so many birdie chances but my putting wasn’t really working.
“I was missing all the short birdie and par putts, and that’s why I didn’t make so many birdies but a few bogies.
“It felt like my posture was a little bit off because I couldn’t get my line and speed together.
“I think my putting got better towards the end, but I didn’t have too many holes left by the time I felt like I could putt again. Even though level par isn’t a great score I still feel that I at least tried my best.”
Shanshan holds numerous records at this event. Besides the most wins record with three victories over the past four years, she also has the lowest winning score at 21 under par achieved twice in 2012 and 2015, and the biggest winning margin at 12 strokes from 2015.
