Rasmus Hojgaard (-6) missed the cut at the Irish Open last September and has since been slowly cooking his next shot. He has nine consecutive tournaments without missing the cut and has handed in 30 under par cards out of the last 36 he has filled out. His worst result in these nine and a half weeks has been a 45th place at Wentworth. Afterwards, all his results have been within the top 26. Rasmus is preparing something big. Not to mention, in the last two tournaments in Dubai he has finished in eleventh place, showing up in the high ranking area at all times.
The Danish twin of Nicolai has continued with the good line in the first day of the Ras al Khaimah Championship. He signed a result of 66 strokes, with eight birdies and two bogeys. Birdies of all kinds and conditions, sinking from outside, putting very good putts, leaving some given. Resources of all kinds to already place himself, once again, in the noble area of the tournament. Specifically, he is provisionally second behind Ricardo Gouveia (-7), the first leader of the tournament with an immaculate card of 65 strokes. Collection of iron shots made in Vilamoura and a brilliant performance on the greens.
Golf has given Rasmus more disappointments than joys in recent times. He didn’t make it in time to play the Ryder Cup in Rome and was a couple of birdies short of getting a PGA Tour card through the Race to Dubai. Far from sinking into misery, the Nordic has become even stronger and his consistency in the last four months has been extraordinary. Be prepared for a Hojgaard (Rasmus) blast.
Great start also for Manu Elvira (-4). The Cantabrian has handed in a 68-stroke card without errors. He saved three very good pars on the 7th, 11th and 15th, the first with a great putt and the other two with superb shots from the sand. Beyond that, his usual solid game, without making mistakes, getting into few troubles and taking advantage of the most favourable holes. Textbook golf. As if it were easy.
Manu’s round is even more meritorious considering that he played this first round at the Al Hamra Golf Club somewhat diminished. He woke up with a sore throat and slightly physically touched. In his case, the old British saying has been fully fulfilled today: “beware of the sick golfer”.
Things went worse for Adri Arnaus (+3) and Pablo Larrazábal (+5). Both have suffered a lot from the tee. They will need a great round this Friday to make the cut.
