Lampert looks for Grand Finale

Germany’s Moritz Lampert lit up the European Challenge Tour this season with three stunning victories to gain instant automatic promotion to The European Tour.
But he’s back to join his old friends on the Challenge Tour for the two crucial remaining Final Swing events – this week’s National Bank of Oman Golf Classic, followed by next week’s Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club, with an eye on topping the Challenge Tour Rankings.
Having not played on the Challenge Tour since mid-August Lampert is currently second behind England’s Andrew Johnston in the rankings but with the Englishman not playing in this week’s tournament taking place at the stunning Almouj Golf, The Wave from Thursday October 30 to Sunday November 2, the German has a chance to gain ground to set up a tantalizing finale when the Tour’s top 45 players shoot it out at Al Badia Golf Club by InterContinental from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 8 November.
“Andy Johnston’s played a phenomenal season,” says Lampert who won the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda, the Fred Olsen Challenge de España and the Azerbaijan Golf Challenge Open this season and is currently €47,280 behind Johnston. “He’s won twice and finished second in Kazakhstan so I’m quite far behind, but I feel like if I can win one, or maybe win the next two I’ve got a chance of topping the Rankings which would be a great achievement because I’ve only played 11 events on the Challenge Tour.
“I think you should never forget where you come from and even though I’m playing The European Tour now I’m really thankful to Alain de Soultrait (Director of the Challenge Tour) that he gave me invites to come back and play these final two events in Oman and Dubai – there are worse places to be!”
Lampert got his first experience of Greg Norman’s highly regarded Almouj Golf layout during last year’s inaugural National Bank of Oman Golf Classic and he’s relishing his return to the Sultanate this week.
“I really loved the course last year, it’s right on the ocean and is a beautiful place,” he says. “It’s a tough golf course designed by Greg Norman and I think it’s just a really good test of golf.”
Following the National Bank of Oman Golf Classic the top 45 players on the Challenge Tour Rankings will make the short trip to Dubai for the Dubai Festival City Challenge Tour Grand Final hosted by Al Badia Golf Club. When the dust settles after the final round of that tournament, which, in a boost for spectators, this year concludes on a Saturday, the top 15 players on the Rankings will be awarded cards to play on next season’s European Tour.
Lampert and Johnston’s places on the main Tour next year are already secured but with the honour of being named the Challenge Tour’s No.1 player up for grabs, the pair will be going all out for victory in Dubai.
“I want go and try to win both tournaments,” says Lampert. “It’s not in my hands but I’ll be trying my hardest and to be in with a chance of winning the Rankings is great. Andy and I have become really good friends, we’ll probably play together at Al Badia as well so I’m really looking forward to catching up with him. I haven’t seen him for a while and I think he gets the best out of me so it’s a win-win situation for both of us.”
Latest
-
Courses
Ranking all 6 Australian states by the quality of their golf courses
How do Australia’s states stack up when it comes to their golf.
-
Equipment
Titleist launch incredible limited edition Mystic Blue Scotty Cameron HXXIII Newport Putter
The Mystic Blue Scotty Cameron HXXIII Newport Putter is breathtaking.
-
Equipment
The clubs Scottie Scheffler used to win the Hero World Challenge – including a new custom putter
Scottie Scheffler had a new putter in hand for his Hero World Challenge win.
-
Equipment
5 of the very best drivers to give you more distance off the tee
Looking for distance in a driver? We have you covered.
-
Equipment
What golf clubs did Min Woo Lee have in his bag for the Australian Open?
What’s in the bag for the Chef?
-
Features
Is it poor form to play golf on Christmas Day?
There is nothing wrong with a yuletide round.
-
Courses
Wild Horse Golf Club emphatically answers the question ‘is affordable golf in Nebraska any good’
Wild Horse Golf Club has made fine use of Nebraska’s prairies to create a unique and surprisingly affordable experience.
-
Equipment
What’s in the bag for rising PGA Tour star Max Homa?
What does top-10 star Max Homa have in his bag?
-
Courses
What makes Kapalua’s Plantation Course unique among PGA Tour layouts?
A visit to Kapalua’s Plantation Course is always memorable.
-
Equipment
Whatever happened to Bubba Watson’s hovercart?
What happened to Bubba Watson’s 50 mph golf hovercraft?