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Pieters knocks birthday boy Fleetwood off top spot |
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Belgium’s Ryder Cup sensation Thomas Pieters’ bogey-free 65 made him the man of the moment as he soared to the top of leader board in round two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA. Pieters finished at 12-under, one ahead of Spain’s Jorge Campillo who added a 64 to yesterday’s 69, to finish on 11-under. Round one leader and reigning champion Tommy Fleetwood, who celebrated his 27th birthday today, is well placed on 10-under, alongside fellow Englishman Ross Fisher and Frenchman Alexander Levy. Paul Casey, who has won two previous Championships, sits at nine-under, while World Number One Dustin Johnson will fancy his chances at eight-under, after shooting a flawless 64 to get into contention. An early start suited Pieters, as he claimed two birdies in his first four holes. He finished the round dramatically chipping in from the bunker on his 18th hole (9th hole) to secure his seventh birdie of the day. Asked if he expected to start his first event of 2018 so well, Pieters said: “Not really! We have a decent game plan. I'm in a positive mind-set, keeping calm, knowing I’ve done well here in the past and that the course suits me. The greens are perfect, the weather's perfect. “I’m ball striking well and I hit 16 greens today. That all helps. Off the tee was decent and I rolled in a couple of putts which was nice. So now I am going to eat, practise, and make sure I don't hook and slice anymore, and I'll be ready for tomorrow.” Thirty-one-year-old Spaniard Jorge Campillo tied the low round of the day with an impressive 64, a shot behind Pieters, to take him into second place on 11-under. Campillo said: “I always like to come here to Abu Dhabi and play golf. I’ve had a Top-10 here, and I normally play well. So I do like the course. I think it's a fair course. It's tough but it's playing easy, but it can play hard with the wind. It seems having practised hard this winter that the work is paying off. Brit Ross Fisher produced another solid round of 67, matching his efforts of five-under on day one. Fisher soon got into his stride and didn’t let a bogey on the sixth put him off, as he went on to hole six birdies, including his last two holes: “Today felt marginally better and was another solid day. I didn't really miss many shots, except that sloppy bogey playing the sixth. But I’m obviously delighted with the two days' work, all safely through to the weekend.” English compatriot Paul Casey, who has twice been a winner here, shot a seven-under par 65, which included an eagle and five birdies, is at nine-under for the Championship. The 40-year-old Englishman re-joined the European Tour towards the end of 2017, having not played for more than two seasons. He said: ”Today was really good. I dialled things in and shot five better. I'm not a morning person, but the golf course was perfect this morning: just a little softer, greens less fierce. This course is so well prepared that guys are going to make putts. “Personally, I know this course well and I think that's the thing – I know how to get around it. I know where I struggle around this golf course. I know where I can capitalise with the strengths of my game. Every hole it seems like I've got good memories of, so it really is drawing from some of those past experiences. But I think the biggest motivation is the fact that Kaymer has got three Championship titles and I've only got two! So I would love to equal that record this week.” One of the most popular groupings of the day was the headline trio of World Number One Dustin Johnson, four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy and reigning champion Tommy Fleetwood. Fleetwood managed a 68 while Johnson and McIlroy finished rounds of 64 and 66 respectively, with McIlroy bagging a timely Eagle on the 18th: Commenting on his performance, McIlroy added: “I tried to stay as patient as possible and I now feel so much closer to the lead. He added: “The first two days I've been really, really happy. Today was an improvement on yesterday just in terms of scoring and I’m glad I made the eagle on the last. I'm right in the mix after two days, and you know, I'm happy to be in that position. I feel like I've got a really good chance this weekend.” |
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