Ali improves his chances of retaining Asian Tour card

Yasin Ali found some much-needed form when he shot a closing 68 in the Macau Open, leading up to the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia and the season's last five events.

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DUBAI // The Jebel Ali Resort professional Yasin Ali found some much-needed form when he shot a closing 68 in the Macau Open on Sunday - leading up to the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia and the season's last five events. Following a difficult year during which a recurring back injury has held him back, Ali needed a good performance to boost his target of retaining his Asian Tour Card.

His rounds of 69, 64, 70 and 68 won him a prize money share of US$22,575 (Dh83,000) and an automatic place in the next tournament. Ali now lies 77th in the tour's Order of Merit and needs to finish in the top 60. He was delighted with his week's work and said: "It's been a frustrating season and this is just the week I needed. The work with my coach Mark Gregson-Waters in Dubai seems to paying off.

"At least I have now given myself a good chance to retain my card and get back into the biggest events again in 2009. I really want to use the Asian Tour to kick-start my career on the European Tour and hopefully get into the likes of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Dubai Desert Classic." A former England Amateur international, Ali is highly rated in international golf. He has played the Asian Tour since 2005 and is a popular figure on the UAE golf circuit.

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