Scotland’s Craig Lee shot a five under par 67 to grab a one stroke clubhouse lead at nine under par on day two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Lee, 36 had seven birdies and just two bogeys to finish his round clear of England’s Danny Willett who went within one stroke of the National Course record in a round that included an eagle and seven birdies in his nine under par 63.
Craig Lee moves into the clubhouse lead on day two of Abu Dhabi HSBC C’ship. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn continued to boost his chance of European Ryder Cup selection later this year with a 67 to be sharing third place on seven under par with Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez who also shot a 67 as the afternoon half of the field took to the course.
Lee secured his best Tour finish last September in losing a play-off to Bjorn in the European Masters in Switzerland.
While narrowly missing out on securing a first-ever Tour victory the result was a huge lift to the Stirling-born golfer who had eight prior visits to the Tour’s end-of-season Qualifying School before only just managing to hold onto full Tour membership at the end of 2012.
“I’m delighted with that effort today as I managed to hole a few putts early doors and that was the key this morning,” he said.
“Ever since my great result in Switzerland I feel a lot more confident in what I’m doing,” said Lee.
“I am also a lot more relaxed and comfortable in dealing with tough golf courses like the one we have here this week.
“Of course, I would like for Thomas and myself to go side-by-side as we did last year in Switzerland but all credit to him as he played well.”
Willett’s round is an equal European Tour career best matching a similar score he posted aduring the 2012 Portugal Masters at Vilamoura.
Bjorn is currently second overall on the European Team points table and helped by his victory last month in the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.
While the now 42-year old Dane has been a vice-captain on the past two European Teams he is seeking to qualify automatically for the 2014 team for a first occasion since being a member of the victorious 2002 side.
“A lot of people seem to think I don’t have a lot to do to make the team, when you’re on this side of the fence, you are just trying to stick your head down and try to do the job,” he said.
Meantime –
Spain’s Sergio Garcia has taken his place in the second round after injuring his left shoulder when hitting from rough on day one.
The World No. 10 has undergone extensive treatment since recording a four-over par 76 a day earlier.
Garcia seemed to show no ill effects of his injury when he birdied half of his opening six holes on day two.
European Tour Chief Referee, John Paramor looked at video footage of the incident and accompanied Garcia back to 18th green that he had been playing as his ninth on Thursday, and agreed with Garcia he had merely tapped down a pitch mark that he is allowed to do under the Rules of Golf.
