ROSE BLOSSOMS IN ABU DHABI SUNSHINE
Triple Champion Kaymer Poised to Pounce as Woods and McIlroy Crash Out
Overnight leader Justin Rose basked in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship sunshine today, the world number five carding an assured morning round of 69 to end the day one-shot clear of a three-strong chasing pack at eight-under par.
Under clear blue skies and striking sunshine – in stark contrast to the snowfall besieging the Englishman’s homeland – Rose thrived amid strong support from packed Abu Dhabi galleries.
“Conditions were perfect, absolutely perfect,” said Rose. “I felt like I hit the ball pinhigh an awful lot today and I guess that tells you that you’re swinging the club well. I felt good about my game.”
With reigning champion Robert Rock forced to withdraw from the Championship due to illness, Rose played a spectator-friendly, morning two-ball with Ernie Els. The Big Easy shot one-over to finish even par after 36 holes, well within the two-over par cut.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson, joint-top at the start of the day, kept in contention with a solid 70 and sits one stroke behind Rose, along with Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen, who posted a bogey-free 69, and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, who shot 67 - the day’s best round.
Castaño revealed he had discovered the secret of scoring well on the National Course: “Both days now I’ve started with a bogey at the first, so apparently that’s what I have to do tomorrow to make the birdies come.”
Abu Dhabi debutant, Jason Dufner, the world number 11, found his form with a composed 69 that left him tied-seventh in an eight-strong group at four-under par featuring triple Abu Dhabi champion, Martin Kaymer, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, South Africa’s Branden Grace and George Coetzee, England’s David Howell and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell.
Italian hotshot Matteo Manassero, who this week extended his global golf ambassador role for Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the Championship organiser, is also at four-under following a birdie-littered 68. “Abu Dhabi’s like home in some ways,” said Manassero. “I think it’s my fourth time at the Championship but I’ve been here many more times to practice – it seems to be helping and I’m set-up for a push now.”
Amazingly, the world’s top two players, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, will not complete the weekend.
Watched by a dense pack of expectant spectators, Woods, the world number two, got off to a nightmare start. The American’s disastrous front-nine included four bogeys over the first five holes before three birdies on-the-spin over holes 14-16 sparked a mini renaissance.
When Woods sank a par putt on the 18th green, few would have predicted the drama that followed. Woods emerged from the scorers’ hut with a two-shot penalty for moving his ball without taking a penalty stroke when it was plugged in sand on the fifth. The penalty moved Woods from one-over to three-over and outside the cut.
“I fought hard today,” said Woods. “I got off to a bad start and I battled back and got it to where I thought I could play the weekend. I thought I might have a chance to post two low rounds but I won’t be able to do that.”
Playing in an eye-catching pairing with Woods and Kaymer, an off-colour McIlroy faced a more conventional exit - a second consecutive round of 75 leaving the world number one a mammoth four shots shy of the cut. “It’s very disappointing,” said McIlroy. “You really want to get off to a nice start of the season but I’ve got to realise that it’s only the start and there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Elsewhere at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, thousands of fans poured into the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Village to enjoy an array of fun and entertainment. From the HSBC Ultimate Bunker Challenge to coaching nets offering lessons with professional players, golf fans, families and those new to the sport enjoyed family-friendly action off the course.
On the Championship’s third day (Saturday, January 19th), fans can enter for free by wearing an item of visible clothing that is ‘Championship red’, while those looking for a lunch with a difference can choose from the carefully-selected viewing areas overlooking the National Course fairways and greens as part of a special Picnic Day promotion.
The first 100 people to cross the Championship entrance gates every day enter for free and the first 75 HSBC Premier customers through the gates each day receive a voucher for a free picnic for two.
Emirate: Abu Dhabi
Date: Jan 18, 2013
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