Double Major winning John Daly has put himself in position to end a decade long winless drought at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.
Daly, who turns 48 in April, posted a bogey free 69 in ideal scoring conditions and end his second round at eight under par and just three shots from the lead.
John Daly looking to end a 10-year winless drought on Doha desert course. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
South African George Coetzee remained atop of the Qatar leader board despite a second hole double bogey in also shooting a 69 to be in the clubhouse on 11-under par.
England’s Steve Webster (69) and Sweden’s Johan Carlsson (65) are next best at 10-under par.
Daly, currently ranked a lowly 505th in the world, accepted a sponsor’s invitation to compete in Doha for a third time in his career with a best finish being T4th when he last teed-up on the country’s only golf course in 2012.
“I had a lot of chances out there today so my score could have easily been a lot lower than three under par,” he said.
But overall I am very pleased.
“The only problem is that I have been duck-hooking my driver, so I started using my 3-wood a lot, and I may have to get a stiffer shaft in the driver for the last two rounds.
“So apart from that one aspect everything is solid, very solid.”
It is 10 years this week Daly last won a main Tour event and that was in capturing the 2004 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.
Daly’s victory was sandwiched in between Tiger Woods winning in 2003 and 2005 and with the World No. 1 this week seeking to become the first ever golfer to win nine events on the same golf course.
Buick ended their sponsorship in 2009 and since then the event has been known as the Farmer’s Insurance Open.
And while Daly did not manage to secure entry into this year’s event he accepted a sponsors’ invitation to compete in Qatar.
“My enthusiasm for this game has never changed and I just love it,” said Daly.
“But then the older you get, the harder it gets. I just love to compete.
“All I am trying to do, is the best I can. My mind set nowadays is more at ease and I am more at peace with myself and that makes it a lot easier to compete.
“I can honestly walk off the golf course now knowing I gave it 100% and to me that’s all that matters. That’s all you can do out here.
“I also play to win and I feel I am still very competitive, and barring some injuries the last six years who knows what would have happened.
“I feel pretty good right now. I’ve gained some back and I feel better. I don’t know why so I am very competitive and I still feel like I can still win.”
But while Daly is assured all four rounds in the $US 2.5m event fellow British Open winner, Ernie Els looks likely to miss the cut shooting a 76 to drop to one over par.
