Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello continues to show his fondness for desert courses shooting a second round 65 for a two shot lead in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The 29-year old Gran Canaria-born golfer birdied five of his closing seven holes, including three in succession from the 14th hole, to move to 13-under par in superb scoring conditions on the Doha Golf Club course.
Desert King Rafa Cabrera Bello leads second round by two shots in Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Three years ago Cabrera-Bello was runner up in Doha while less than a week ago he shared the lead over the first two rounds before being tied in fourth place behind compatriot Pablo Larrazabal in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Next Tuesday as 2012 winner Cabrera-Bello will join former 20 other Dubai Desert Classic champions, including World No. 1 Tiger Woods, competing in an 18-hole 25th anniversary ‘Former Champions Challenge’ ahead of the tournament proper in Dubai.
“I got on a very hot streak on my back nine with the putter, so that was very good,” he said.
“But playing here in the Middle East definitely feels like back home in Grand Canaria as the golf courses have plenty waste sand around and also plenty of rocks like here in Qatar.
“There is always a bit of a breeze, like the sea breeze we get back home, and then there is palm trees, and I like having sun shining on the golf course.
“I started practicing over here at the end of the year, and I don’t feel that I’ve left home, so that’s why I enjoy it so much.”
While Cabrera-Bello looks to secure a third Tour victory South African George Coetzee, who shot a 69 to be in second place on 11-under par, is looking for a first European Tour success.
The quietly-spoken South African began his round birdie, double bogey before birding three of his closing six holes.
“After taking the double at my second I just told myself, make some putts, and lucky I did,” he said.
Three players – Sweden’s Johan Carlsson (65) and the England duo of Matthew Baldwin (66) and Steve Webster (69) – share third spot on 10-under par.
Double Major winning John Daly (69) is two shots further back on eight under par and looking to end a 10-year winless drought on the same week as PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open and formerly known as the Buick Invitational that he won in 2004.
“My enthusiasm for this game has never changed and I just love it,” said Daly.
“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.”
European No. 1 and FedEx Cup champion, Henrik Stenson (70) bounced back from missing the cut last week in Abu Dhabi to be tied.
Reigning PGA champion, Jason Dufner (71) is at three under par.
Just managing to make the one-under par cut-off mark was four-time Major winner, Ernie Els who bogeyed his closing two holes in a score of 76.
Also securing a place in the final two rounds at one under par was European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley (70).
However missing out was 20-year old South African Brandon Stone who recorded the first European Tour hole-in-one of 2014.
Stone holed a 212-yard 5-iron at the third hole his round, the par three 12th but missing out on a BMW sedan on offer at the 17th.
Stone eventually signed for a 70 for a two over par tally.
