Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung is happy to be back in tournament action despite being understandably rusty coming off a lengthy competitive break. The 30-year-old carded a one-under-par 71 in today’s opening round of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.
Based in Dubai since September, Nicholas got into the US$1.2 million European Tour event on a tournament invitation, due to slots which opened up after three golfers tested positive for Covid-19. The bespectacled golfer mixed four birdies – all on the front nine – against three bogeys at the Fire Course of Jumeirah Golf Estates to lie in T67 position.
“I’m just happy to be back competing on the golf course, although I was a bit shaky and rusty when warming up at the range,” said Nicholas, whose last tournament was the Bandar Malaysia Open in March where he finished T58.
“It’s been so long since I played in a tournament, so I was worried it would be tough to get back into competition mode. But I’ve practised a lot since I came to Dubai, so I decided to give myself a chance and see how I do,” added the one-time Asian Tour winner.
While he has played the Greg Norman-designed Fire Course a few times before, Nicholas noted that the tournament set-up was much tougher. “The course condition is very different compared to when I played before. The greens are much faster and the rough is thicker,” said the Sabahan, who played in a two-ball with Finland’s Sami Valiamaki.
It was also Nicholas’ first tournament as a father, as he and wife Suki welcomed daughter Hannah in August.
Malaysian No 1 Gavin Green meanwhile had a rough start, shooting a two-over-par 74 to lie in 97th spot.
