Yasin Ali swinging for a Mena Tour breakthrough

As the 2014 Mena Tour prepares to begin later this month in Morocco, Yasin Ali has stated his ambition to win for the first time.

England's Yasin Ali is aiming for a Mena Tour breakthrough this season. Brandon Malone / Action Images
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As the 2014 Mena Tour prepares to begin later this month in Morocco, Yasin Ali has stated his ambition to win for the first time.

The Englishman has contended, but has yet to win an event on the developmental tour, having come closest at the Abu Dhabi Citizen Open in 2011, where a three-putt on the final hole gifted the title to countryman Zane Scotland.

While Scotland has gone from strength to strength since then, winning four times last year and claiming the order of merit title, Ali has yet to enjoy his own triumphant moment.

“I have been close, but not close enough to close the deal,” said Ali, who was born in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, before moving to England at the age of seven, where he learnt to play golf.

“Golf can be a could-have, should-have-done this or that sport,” he said. “It’s all a question of getting that first win. When and where it will happen, I don’t know. All I know, I just want to progress with my golf after some difficult years.”

Ali captained the England boys’ team at 18, and just missed out on rookie of the year on the 2006 Asian Tour, but then injury struck him down.

“I injured my elbow in 2007 and that ruined my season,” he said. “I have been trying to get back to that level since then, but it’s taken me a while. I hope this edition of the Mena Golf Tour is the start of something.”

The tour begins on March 17 at the Royal D’Anfa Open in Mohammedia, then moves a week later to Rabat and the Royal Dar Es Salaam Open before the summer break, and Ali is looking forward to tackling both.

“It will be the first time I will be playing in Mohammedia and Rabat,” he said.

“I have heard a lot of good things about the courses there from other players and they say they are just fantastic. I am sure it will be fun to play there. I am looking forward to it.”

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