David Drysdale gets a head for heights to make strong start in Cyprus

David Drysdale of Scotland at the 6th hole during the first round of the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open where he made a strong start with a round of 65. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Scotland’s David Drysdale overcame a self-diagnosed case of “Elevated Tee Syndrome” to continue his dogged pursuit of a maiden European Tour title in the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Open.

Playing in his 509th tournament, Drysdale carded an opening six-under-par 65 to lie a shot off the lead held by England’s Mitch Waite and American Johannes Veerman in the inaugural edition of the £900,000 event.

As its name implies, Aphrodite Hills features some notable elevation changes and Drysdale had little memory of them having only previously played the course during a “drunken holiday” a decade ago.

“I got a little bit of vertigo on the third tee and the seventh tee,” Drysdale said after a round containing an eagle, five birdies and a bogey.

“It’s weird, I call it ETS – Elevated Tee Syndrome – where you feel like you can’t follow through, you just stay so far back on it because it’s so high up. It’s a strange feeling on a couple of tee shots round here.

“How you see this bit of land and design a golf course on it, it’s incredible. The fella who designed it has done an amazing job. Some of the drives, the buggy ride to the tee shot on three and then the buggy ride to the seventh tee, it’s incredible.

“I actually played here before about 10 years ago, but it was a little drunken holiday and we played early in the morning and I can’t remember an awful lot about it, but I do remember the drive down that hill on seven and just thinking ‘Oh my god’”.

David Drysdale: From bunking off school to play golf to European Tour milestone

Waite turned professional in November 2018 and is making just his fourth start on the European Tour, but the 25-year-old from Bristol held his nerve when a hot start drew the attention of the TV cameras as he carded an eagle and seven birdies in his 64.

“It’s probably been a slow professional career so far, expectation was high for myself and I put myself under pressure more than anybody else,” the world number 974 said.

“Last year was a tough year and I started quite nicely at the beginning of this year on the Challenge Tour before Covid hit and that slowed me down, but I’m just fortunate to be here on an invite.

“It’s easy to say (you have) no expectations but you’ve got to still go out there and do it.