Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune got off to a dream start at this week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship, firing a scorching opening round of 8 under 64 as he tore up the Al Hamra Golf Club course to take the early lead.
The world number 210 – a newcomer to the DP World Tour having gained his card at Q-School in November – fired off a sensational seven birdies in a front 9 of 29 as talk of ’59 Watch’ spread around the venue.
But his back nine was a little more pedestrian as he came home in 35 blows, ending his round with his only bogey of the day to open up a two-shot lead ahead of Matthew Baldwin, Eduardo Molinari and Rasmus Hojgaard.
“It was so unreal,” said the 20 year old who has been tipped by many as ‘one to watch’ in 2023. “I was just hitting shots, holing putts. Every time I made it. It was so amazing. It’s the first time I’ve had six birdies in a row. It’s my first event of the year and I was a little nervous at the start, but it was an easy start. So lucky.
“(After that start) I thought, ‘keep going’. On the back nine there are some tough holes. I had to keep making shots, making pars. On the last hole I was so nervous, but it was just a bogey so OK for me.
“My driving (is one of my strengths), I like to hit 300-yard shots in the fairway.
“Last year I went to DP World Tour Q School, and played mainly on the Japan Tour, but no wins. I want to get off to a great start this year.”
England’s Baldwin also had a front nine to remember, with five birdies and no blemishes on his scorecard. Bogeys on 12 and 13 could’ve seen him go off the rails on the way in but he recovered admirably with a birdie on 14 before putting the seal on a 6 under 66 with an eagle at the last after almost holing his 270 yard approach.
“It’s my first round of the year, you don’t know what you’re going to get,” said the 36 year old. “It was very pleasing. You’ve got to keep it out of the rough. Fortunately, the times I did hit it in the rough I had a good lie.
“I had 270 to the pin (for the eagle on 18), I knew that if I pitched my two iron and I was on the green it was going to release, and it released up to about two inches.
“You’ve got to keep the ball on the fairway or you’re struggling because you don’t know how it’s going to react. The greens are very good, you can hole putts. The set-up is quite tricky so you’ve got to be sensible a lot of the time, and when you have an opportunity to go at a flag you’ve got to take it.
“There are always people that go out and shoot great scores, but putting four rounds together to get to 24 under is something special (Nicolai Hojgaard’s score last year).”
Ryan Fox joined a group of six players tied at 5 under 67 despite still suffering from the effects of a stomach bug that started ahead of the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Monday.
“I woke up with a bit of a dodgy stomach this morning but took a couple of pills and feel fine now. I’m still a bit lethargic but have managed my energy levels pretty well this week. Hopefully by tomorrow or Saturday I’ll be feeling 100% again.”
