Regnum Caya resort, Belek, Turkey …
Justin Rose boosted a goal to return to World No. 1 in seizing a two-stroke lead after a second straight score of 65 after two rounds of the Turkish Airlines in Belek.
Rose and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen were tied for the lead playing the last but the Englishman’s victorious Ryder Cup colleague bogeying the last and Rose holing an eight-footer for birdie in a two-stroke turnaround on the Regnum Caya course.
Rose, who moved to 12-under par, is the $US 7m defending tournament champion while Olesen, who dropped his only shot in 36-holes at 18, signed for a 67 to be sharing second place on 10-under par.
Justin Rose moves two shots clear of his rivals with two rounds to play in the defence of his Turkish Airlines Open title (Photo @tourmiss)
Sharing second in England’s and former Masters champion, Danny Willett (65) and compatriot Tom Lewis (63).
Rose went to World No. 1 in losing a play-off in September’s PGA Tour BMW Championship and would return to the top of the rankings by successfully defending a tournament for a first time in his 20-year pro career.
“When I won here last year I had played catch-up for much of the first three days and other guys are capable of doing that this year,” he said.
“I’ve now shot two 65s but then you can always have somebody from the chasing pack do the same thing.
“For me it’s about keep moving forward this week. Even par is not really going to get it done, so you have to have the mentality of keep moving forward.”
Remarkably, Rose is now 71-under par for 14 rounds competing in Turkey and commencing with his victory in the inaugural 2012 Turkish Airlines World Grand Final.
But then the now 38-year old is not about to admit the game is becoming easier.
“No and even if it was, I would never admit to that,” he said.
“Clearly, I’ve been burned by this game many a time and you have to keep working hard. I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself, wake up tomorrow and go from there. Every day just try to build a new body of work and keep grinding.”
Olesen, and winner of the Turkish event at the nearby Montgomerie course in 2016, had been tied with Rose at the end of round one and with the duo virtually going birdie for birdie over the outward nine.
Rose then dropped a shot at 10 before the 2016 Gold Medal winner went one clear thanks to back-to-back birdies at 12 and 13.
Olesen drew level at 16 before handing Rose what was an eventual two-shot leading cushion in three-putting the last.
“I was very pleased the way I played the first 11 holes and thought I gave myself so many good chances.,” said Olesen.
“I actually missed quite a few there. But sort of a struggle coming in unfortunately, but 4-under is still a good score.”
Willett boosted hopes also of capturing a first victory since his 2016 Masters triumph with a second day showing that included seven birdies and just the one bogey.
“It’s nice and always nice to know that you’re playing good golf in practice and take it from the range or the practice area and kind of implement it a bit more on the golf course,” he said.
“I’m hitting good shots in practice and movements are good and everything is going okay.”
Willett jumped to ninth in the world in winning at Augusta National and teed-up this week in Turkey having slumped to World No. 322.
The now 31-year old and father of two also is ranked No. 64 on the Race to Dubai and will need to be inside the top-60 at the end of next week’s season penultimate Nedbank Challenge to be assured of teeing-up in the season decider in Dubai.
