David ‘Double D’ Drysdale fought back from a double dose of bad luck with the double delight of two eagles on day three of the Acciona Spanish Open in Madrid.
Drysdale posted a ‘moving day’ three-under par 68 to be tied ninth at 11-under par on the Club de Campo course in the Spanish capital.
Local hero Rafa Cabrera-Bello snatched seven birdies in a 64 to lead the field by two shots at 17-under par as the former 2017 Scottish Open winner looks to win his own national open for a first time in his career.
Cabrera-Bello, 37, has dropped just two shots over the three days and since the second of his opening day pair of bogeys and with the Spaniard now 14-under for his ensuing 38 holes.
Double-Ds double delight on day three of the Spanish Open
Frenchman Julien Guerrier (66) and Spaniard Adri Arnaus (67) share second on 15-under.
World No. 1 Jon Rahm, seeking to win three straight Spanish titles, had a horror 72 of four birdies but also three bogeys and a double to be tied with Drysdale and seven others including Scots Marc Warren (69) and Grant Forrest (70).
Drysdale’s third round of his 539th Tour event was off to a soaring start when he landed a 3-wood second shot to 12-foot for an eagle ‘3’ at the par-5 fourth hole.
The Borders golfer dropped a shot on six but birdied seven only to give a shot back at 12 but then drilled a hybrid to only three-feet at the par-5 14th for a second eagle of his round.
He said: “It was a pretty decent round where I hit a couple of poor shots in the middle of the round but got up-and-down a couple of times, and to eagle two of the par-5s was the key.
“It’s always nice to manage one but two is a bonus.
“The course has started to firm up as it should be and I hope the weather continues like this tomorrow.”
