Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher is looking to finally end a nine-year winless drought despite having to send a caddy up a palm tree to locate his ball on day two of the Dubai Desert Classic.
Gallacher the windy conditions, and also some intermittent rain, to snatch four birdies in a two under par 70 and join England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Denmark’s Thornbjorn Olesen (66) in second place on 11-under par.
South African Richard Sterne broke a four way deadlock atop of the board in holing a four-foot birdie at the last in a score of 70 to move to 12-under par
Gallacher capped his day with three birdies in four holes mid-round as he strives to not only become the second Scottish winner in six events this new season but also win for a second time since capturing the 2004 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher climbs to the top of the board on day two of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)
“It was a lot trickier out there today in the conditions and also with a few spots of rain but then I’m delighted to be in the hunt going into the weekend,” said Gallacher.
“I’m only one place and it’s the place you want to be, really and have a good one tomorrow so that I’m in the hunt come Sunday.”
Twelve months ago, Gallacher was three shots off the pace after two rounds before finishing tied for second.
But this year he’s only one behind and also has played one less shot after 36-holes than a year ago.
“I’m playing pretty much the same as last year but then I’ve probably driven the ball a lot better this time around,” he said.
“I’m excited going into the weekend but just pleased today to have handled the tough conditions pretty well.”
Gallacher lost a ball in the tree at the 12th hole and after summoning a ladder the caddy to playing partner, Richard Finch located the Scot’s ball along six others including the ball lost by Sergio Garcia earlier in the day.
“I was going to send my caddy Damien up but he’s too heavy and would have broken the ladder so Roachie (Kyle Roach) who caddies for Finchy (Richard Finch) went up the ladder,” said Gallacher.
“He must have found about six balls and one of them was probably Sergio’s)
The World No. 14 ranked Garcia relied on an official photographer taking a snap of the ball and with Garcia being able to confirm it was his ball on route to a 69 for a share of eighth place on nine under par.
And Garcia revealed he was close to withdrawing from the event after just five holes as he struggles with nerve or tendon concern at the back of his left shoulder.
“I started my round on the 10th but my shoulder was hurting that much I said to my caddy on the 14th green that if doesn’t get any better after the 18th I will probably walk off.
“What I don’t want is for the pain to keep building up and for me not to recover.
“But unfortunately (smiling) we started making birdies and eagles and what do we do now?
“So I got the physio to come out onto the course and work on it a little bit and he put some Tiger Balm on the area, and it did feel a little bit better.
“But it did start to get a little stiff again on the back nine so I had more treatment so it’s getting there.”
Glasgow’s Chris Doak continues to upstage many of his more fancied rivals again not dropping a shot in adding a 69 to his first round 65 and move into a share of fourth place and only two behind Sterne
The 250th World Ranked Doak is not only looking to become the second Scot to win in six events this season but a top of the board finish, at worst would go a long way to secure his card for 2014, and in only his third event this year.
“It’s a good two day’s work especially as the wind was starting to get up near the end of my round,” said Doak.
“Something I have been trying to do in my game is to eliminate the mistakes so to have no bogeys in two days is mission accomplished.”
And helping steer the 34-year old Doak towards the pointed end of the tournament is his work with veteran coach, Bob Torrance.
“I’ve been working hard with Bob Torrance so the dispersion of the ball is narrowing and I know where it’s going nowadays,” hesaid.
“And I’ve also got a new caddy compared to the old one who had me always going for the flags whereas now I now edge away from them when I have to.
“So it’s kind of Hollywood or bust and it’s all to do with better course management.
“But I am just enjoying it and my wife to be is over here with me.”
Doak first contested a European Tour as a 21-year when he teed up in the 1999 Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles.
In the intervening period Doak has contested 44 events but making the halfway cut in just 20 and with his best finish being sixth in last year’s Austrian Open.
Three months later, Doak secured his first success in winning the Allianz Open de Lyon on the secondary Challenge Tour.
And at age 34, the Scot’s still 13 years shy of double Major winning Mark O’Meara who became the Dubai Desert Classic oldest winner at age 47 in 2004.
“It’s not like football but there is a lot of guys out here who’s careers have just started at age 35 or 36 so I’ve got a few years on these guys so I look at it that way.”
And fellow Glaswegian Scott Jamieson began the second round sharing third place but 18 straight pars on day two saw him drop to a share of 20th at seven under par.
