LOCAL golfer Oliver Fisher was left to wonder what might have been at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship last week after a disappointing final round scuppered his chance of a top ten finish.

The Chigwell-based professional teed off 2009 in style after a six-week break from the game with an opening five-under par round of 67 to put him amongst the early front-runners.

The 20-year-old player, who was beginning his third year on the European Tour, then followed that up with solid scores of 69 in his next two rounds, leaving him tied for eighth heading into the final day.

But the wheels came off in the fourth round, as a three-over par score saw him slide down the leaderboard, and he was eventually forced to settle for a tie for 37th place.

Fisher’s eight-under par total was 13 shots adrift of tournament winner Paul Casey, who pipped Louis Oosterhuizen and defending champion Martin Kaymer to the title by a single shot.

Fisher will continue his tour of the Middle East with a trip to Doha for the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, which begins today (Thursday).

The youngster has enjoyed a phenomenal rise through the golfing ranks that defies his tender years.

Having become the youngest-ever player to take part in the Walker Cup (amateur version of the Ryder Cup) at 16, he has become an established member of the pro ranks in just two years.