Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Burmester plays his third shot on the 6th hole on Friday at the 31st Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

By Kent Gray
Dean Burmester’s putting has been a feature of the first half of the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic. Chasing a second European Tour title, he’s quite happy to take care of the driving, on and off the Majlis, from here on in too.

The 30-year-old shares second place with Robert Karlsson midway through the $3.25 event after surviving a scary car accident on the eve of the tournament.

Travelling back to their hotel from Dubai Mall on Wednesday night with wife Mel and 4½-year-old son Jordan, the Uber they were passengers in was involved in a four-car crash, piling into the back of a Porsche before being ricocheted onto another vehicle.

“Yeah, it was quite hectic,” Burmester said after a second-round 68 moved him to -7, a shot adrift of 36-hole pacesetter Eddie Pepperell.

“We went to the aquarium and on our way back we took an Uber to the hotel… there was traffic on the other side of a blind rise and our Uber driver was just too slow and so we went into the back of a Porsche.”

Burmester walked away with a “slight ankle problem” and his wife bad whiplash “but other than that we’re surviving and just happy to be here.”

“Luckily we just got away with a couple of bumps and bruises and just thank God that we’re all okay.”

The feeling has been mutual from everyone involved at the Desert Classic.

Perhaps more than anyone Burmester is looking forward to the weekend and a shot to add to his 2017 European Tour breakthrough at the Tshwane Open and seven Sunshine Tour wins.

“I think for the most part I putted really well and I’ve just been consistent trying to hit fairways, because the rough’s quite deep. For me to hit fairways is pretty good,” the world No. 257 said of his play thus far.

“But I think the major difference is probably my mental attitude towards it. After the car accident you realise what’s important in life and I think I was taking golf a little too seriously. I’ve just kind of relaxed and looked at the family and we’re just enjoying our time.”