Zander Lombard will be looking to turn his consistency into a long-awaited first DP World Tour victory when he enters the weekend in a strong position at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
The South African burst onto the scene in the 2016 season, registering top 10s in three of his first four events, and he has since recorded 20 more without entering the winner’s circle.
The closest he has come was losing a playoff at the 2017 Rocco Forte Open in Verdura, Sicily, one of six runner-up finishes with three of them coming last season when he finished a career-high 32nd on the Race to Dubai Rankings.
After breaking a run of six missed cuts at the Omega European Masters, he has made the weekend in every appearance since, starting the 2024 campaign with five consecutive top-25 finishes.
Back-to-back rounds of 66 at Al Hamra Golf Club send him into the final two days at 12 under and he will be aiming to go one better than last season’s tie for second in his 202nd DP World Tour appearance.
“I’ve had lots of opportunities and I feel like I’m getting closer every time,” he said. “I’m controlling myself better over weekends and final days, knocking on the door. I just have to keep knocking and hopefully it will open soon.
“My whole routine, everything I do is the same every week. It relates to the golf course. Super consistent.
“I’m not doing anything phenomenal but I’m not doing anything terribly. I write it down to that and enjoying the game at the moment.”
The 29-year-old is yet to drop a shot in Ras Al Khaimah and he puts that down to course management.
“I’ve just been playing smart,” he added. “Really hit the ball well, controlled it well. Not been overly aggressive but taking on shots that need to be taken on.
“When I do hit a wayward one, my short game has saved me in a couple of instances, two up-and-downs that kept the momentum going to put a nice score out there.”
– Article from DP World Tour website
Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
