Bernie McGuire in St. Andrews
Affable Scottish golfer David Drysdale is pinching himself he’s teeing-up in an Asian Tour event in St. Andrews but he’s also bitterly disappointed with the DP World Tour.
Drysdale, 48, is among eight Scots competing in the inaugural St. Andrews Bay Championship being staged at the Fairmont Resort on the outskirts of the famous seaside town to Edinburgh’s northeast.
The Edinburgh-born golfer is no stranger to this week’s host Torrance Course having played in the pair of DP World Tour hosted Hero Opens here in 2021 and 2022.
Drysdale said: “Not for a moment in attending the European Tour Q-School all those years ago did I think I would be standing here in St. Andrews preparing to tee-up in an Asian Tour event.
“We played last week at Close House and to be here in Scotland is just absolutely fantastic, and to be here at the Fairmont, a course I’m no stranger to.
“This is my seventh event on the Asian Tour, and I’m enjoying being an Asian Tour member travelling to some great destinations, and looking at my results, it’s been nearly so good, and just looking to put four good rounds together.
“The goal is to retain my Asian Tour card and play on the Tour as long as possible ahead of turning 50 in two years time and moving onto the European Legends Tour.”
Drysdale sought the challenge of seeking his Asian Tour card at the close of last year after losing full status on the DP World Tour, ending a run of 15 consecutive years as a DP World Tour card holder when finishing the 2022 season 158th on the money list.
The proud Scot’s disappointment was compounded when the letters written by he and his wife and caddie Vicky, seeking invitations to 2023 DP World Tour events were simply ignored in most cases.
Drysdale said: “We wrote to eight DP Tour World tournament organisers this year and not one invitation. I got a couple of nice replies including from Marco Kauser at BMW.
“Reading between the lines, I think it has much to do with my gaining my Asian Tour card and this apparent friction between both tours. And from what I understand it is not the Asian Tour’s doing.
“It’s just bitterly disappointing having played 21 seasons and teed-up in 575 events on the European Tour to not get one invitation this season.
“As I said, it’s pretty poor. I could have pushed it more. I could have written to Keith (Pelley, DP World Tour CEO) but can’t be bothered.
“Vicky and I have enjoyed the Asian Tour as we’ve met a lot of new friends, and travelled to some great places but I just feel, having earned my Asian Tour card, it’s being held against me by the European Tour”.
Fellow Scot John Paterson will lead out the $1.5m event that features former Masters winner Sergio Garcia and former Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey.
Casey kick-started his now 21 tournament pro winning career in Scotland at the 2001 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles whereas Garcia, with 36 worldwide victories, has yet to win professionally in the nation where golf began.
The Spaniard, who won the 1998 Amateur Championship at Muirfield, went close to a first pro win on Scottish soil in 2007 at Carnoustie, eventually losing to Pádraig Harrington in a playoff.
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