… Dubai, UAE
Top-ranked Scot Bob MacIntyre confessed his disappointed a huge Tartan support contingent in letting slip a five-shot mid-round lead over his ‘Rookie of the Year’ rival with a 74 on day two of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The young Scot went well ahead of American and playing partner Kurt Kitayama, and closest challenger for the Sir Henry Cotton trophy, with a birdie at 11 before dropping a shot at 13.
MacIntrye, and with at least half of Oban out on the Jumeirah Estates course, then found the water guarding the par-3 17th in taking a double-bogey ‘6’ before then horribly finding water off the tee at the par-5 18th.
He managed to scramble his way in grabbing par and heads to day three of the season-closing event still just one shot clear of Katayama, who again struggled in adding a 75 to his opening 71.
Top Scot Robert MacIntryre disappointed not to ‘put on a show’ for his Tartan followers on day two DP World Tour Championship. (Photo @tourmiss)
He said: “There must have been about 20 folk here from Oban but on that first tee today there was certainly more than 20 folk cheering for me judging by the roars.
“There’s a lot of Scottish people out here and, seeing me do alright, they have decided to come out and support me, which is great.
“Is brilliant and Greg (Milne – caddy) even said to me walking down the first that it was like the Scottish Open all over again.
“But I’m just disappointed that I’ve not put on a show for them.
“We are too far away from the lead and if I shoot nine-under, it would be impressive but I am just looking forward to trying to put in two solid ones over the weekend and see where we finish.”
MacIntyre, and while disappointed with his finish, is projected to now finish 13th on the Race to Dubai and the Las Vegas born Kitayama 15th, and a result that would see MacIntyre become the 13th Scot in the 59-year history to win the Rookie award.
And while the huge Scottish contingent in Dubai out following the Scot are set for a hopeful Sunday night ‘Rookie of the Year’ victory party, MacIntyre continues to fend off the subject.
He said: “I’ve got to throw in a low one. If I do that, then potentially it is all over but until it is over on Sunday night, then anything can happen. You saw the finish today.
“It could be either one of us going up the last with the lead and disaster can strike. But hopefully not. Hopefully I can go out over the weekend and play some solid golf.”
And as he left the scorer’s hut, he was asked if he was planning an afternoon on the range, and replied jokingly: “No, I’ll just go and snap all the clubs!”
Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera clearly was not about to be intimidated in the company of a 27th tournament-winning Rory McIlroy in adding a 69 to his blistering first round score of 63 to move three clear of the Dubai field at 12-under par.
Lorenzo-Vera, 34 is yet to win on the European Tour and would have ended five shots clear had it not been for bogeys on 15 and then three-putting the last from 30-feet for his 12-under par total.
And the Frenchman has been dreaming what he would do with the record-breaking $US3m first prize cheque.
He said: “Last night I was trying to get that amount of money out of my head but it did not want to so I accepted it and then went on to the internet to see what car I’d buy if I won,” he said smiling.
“And it would be a Ferrari F12 TDF.” ‘
The cost of the V-12, 769bhp Italian motor stallion is a few pounds shy of £428,000.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood is now projected to become European No. 1 after a second round 68 to be tied in second place with Spaniard Jon Rahm (69) at nine-under par.
