Omega Dubai Desert Classic: Round two highlights
The second round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic was a mere revival for the top punters around. Rory McIlroy fired some blistering birdies to take the lead while Tiger Woods relished his desert form on this visit.
The round kicked off in windy conditions, but that did not hamper the powerful strokes plumed by the punters who conquered the top section of the leader board. Here is a quick glimpse at the top ten players of the day.
McIlroy aka R-Mac teed off in late hours and managed to pull two birdies on the front. The 21-year-old dropped a shot on the opening hole, but that was eradicated by the points earned. The Northern Irish star slammed three more birdies later in the day,
surpassing Thomas Aiken who was initially in the lead.
R-Mac composed an aggregate of 10-under-par, owing to his first day show in which he fired eight birdies against a bogey. The overnight leader seemed more comfortable in the first round and admitted his discomfort after completing the 36-hole session on
Friday.
He said, “I felt a little more at ease with my swing yesterday, but I stayed patient today and picked up the birdies when I could. Maybe this time last year, I would not have been able to grind out a 68 after the start I had. Rounds like this prove I am
doing the right thing.”
He was chased by the South African who has sworn not to cut his hair until he grabs a trophy on the European tour. Thomas Aiken completed the round early on and relished a bogey-free front nine for the second day.
However, Aiken was not the only player on the second spot of the leader board. Sergio Garcia replicated the score of the South African. He composed 67 without dropping a shot and managed to become the only player in the field to be bogey-free since 36 holes.
Steve Webster and Anders Hanson shared the fourth place after compiling a scorecard at 8-under-par.
The sixth spot of the leader board was occupied by six players: Alvaro Velasco (70), Stephen Gallacher (69), Marc Warren (67), Brett Rumford (68), Michael Hoey (67), and Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (69).
Alvaro Quirós improved folds from the first round in which he lost three holes to bogeys. The Spaniard signed for four-under-par without dropping a shot.
Similar can be said about the man who won twice on the same course, Tiger Woods. The world-number-three revived his desert form by hammering a bogey-free 66 on the windy day. The player seemed happy with his putting, which had been a target of criticism
throughout last year. He said, “I played myself right back into the tournament. I felt I hit the ball a lot better and the greens were absolutely perfect. It was steady. I didn't make as many mistakes as yesterday and I felt it was important to post a number.”
Woods has reduced the distance with the possible winner, R-Mac, and if he remains adamant, he can have serious stake on a top two finish.
Meanwhile, the world-number-two, Martin Kaymer who overthrew Woods with an eight-stroke victory a fortnight ago, sufficed at one-under-par. The German dropped two shots at the back and managed a lone pair of three birdies.
Unlike Kaymer, the reigning king, Lee Westwood composed a score of 2-under-par and an aggregate of five-under in the 36-hole session.
The top punters of the world have faltered terribly on the Emirates Golf Club, while the third man in the race has finally relished a strong comeback. However, will this continue until the last hole of the tournament, is yet to find out?
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