Kaymer grabs lead in desert
Print Edition
NEW year, same old story for Martin Kaymer at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The two-time major winner from Germany set up another chance for a fourth victory at his regular year-opening event, shooting a second straight 6-under 66 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round.
“My favorite golf course,” Kaymer said after tapping in a birdie on the par-5 18th to nudge ahead of Rafa Cabrera Bello with a 12-under 132 total.
Kaymer has averaged 68.73 in 38 rounds over the 7,583-yard National Course in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a long track that suits his eye and his game. He feels extremely confident on the greens — he already has 14 birdies and an eagle this week — and the course’s many doglegs is perfect for a player who fades the ball off the tee.
“He’s a dangerous player around here,” said Henrik Stenson, who gave up his first-round lead to his Ryder Cup teammate. “I think it sets up beautifully for him. He’s shown that in the past with three wins here.”
Those wins came in 2008, 2010 and 2011. The 53rd-ranked Kaymer should have had another in 2015, only to throw away a 10-shot lead with 13 holes to play and get reeled in by Gary Stal.
Kaymer’s round yesterday took off after rolling in a 20-foot eagle putt on No. 8, allowing him to rebound from a bogey on No. 6. He birdied six holes on the back nine as the wind died down.
Sunny and still conditions greeted Cabrera Bello in the morning and the Spaniard responded with 66 of his own, completed by three straight birdies.
Cabrera Bello has been a regular top-10 finisher on the European Tour in recent years — he had six of them in the 2016 season alone — and his consistency earned him a debut on the European team at the Ryder Cup last year. But his last win came at the Dubai Desert Classic in February 2012.
There were mixed fortunes for the marquee group of current major champions Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson and Stenson. Willett, the Masters champion, missed the cut after adding a 76 to a 74 and finished 121st in the 126-man field.
Johnson, the US Open champion, shot a bogey-free 68 to move to 4 under overall, alongside defending champion Rickie Fowler (68).
Stenson, the British Open champion, is best placed of the big names. The Swede followed his 64 with a 71.
Tommy Fleetwood (67), Kiradech Aphibarnrat (68) and Paul Dunne (66) were tied for third at 10 under, two behind Kaymer.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
