Maha Haddioui shot a solid three-under, her best round at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, to stay in contention for her intended target of a top-10 finish at the season-ending Ladies European Tour event.
Making her fourth appearance in the event, 25-year-old from Morocco mixed five birdies with a bogey and a double bogey to move into a tie for sixth going into the second round.
“I played really solid and very happy with the score. I am trying to stay focused on what I need to do this week to keep my (Ladies European Tour) card,” said Haddioui, the only Arab in the 108-player field.
“Everything worked very well. I think it’s all about how you are feeling in your head. Everybody, all the players, can hit a golf the ball perfectly. It’s just about setting the right target and committing to every shot. That’s what I focused on today,” said Haddioui who rebounded with a birdie after a running up a double bogey on the 16th where she hit a wayward drive.
Were you thinking, as you said, a happy thought, a happy smell? “Yes, I thought of my dog. I imagined I am caressing my dog Daisy.”
Keep a quiet mind is her mantra for what she called an important week for her. “As soon as I am set up on the ball, nothing else matters. Once I have made my decision, I just go for it. That’s it, I don’t think about anything.”
