David Cannon/Getty Images
Dean Burmester plays his second shot on the 14th hole during the first round of the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. 

By Ryan Herrington

That Dean Burmester shot a three-under 69 on the Majlis course during the first round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic was notable on its own, given how difficult the conditions were during Thursday’s opening round. Firm greens, thick rough and gusty breezes left the day’s scoring average at 74.11 and put the 30-year-old South African just two strokes off the lead of Thomas Pieters in a tie for third place.

Burmester’s round becomes even more notable in light of what happened on Wednesday night. That’s when he and his family were involved in a car accident while taking an Uber from the golf course to their hotel in Dubai.

Thankfully, it sounds like everybody was OK—although the car has seen better days.

Having a late tee time on Thursday was likely helpful for Burmester, who had extra time to physically and mentally prepare to play his first round. And given his recent play—he has missed the cut in all four previous starts on the European Tour during the 2019-’20 season—you could imagine he already was anxious about how he might do in the desert.