Jimenez turns up the heat at Dubai Desert Classic
BY iseekgolf.com | European PGA Tour | 2005 Dubai Desert Classic | Round Two | 05 Mar 2005
Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez charged to the top of the leader board at the half-way stage of the 2005 Dubai Desert Classic on a day when the Emirates Golf Club was hit by a birdie blitz and over 11,000 spectators swarmed the Majlis Course.
The popular Spaniard won four times last season and showed he has every intention of making the Dubai Aluminium-sponsored Dubai Desert Classic his second title of the 2005 campaign by shooting a sizzling seven-under par 65 to go to -12 (132) for the tournament.
But if the European number four is to become the 15th different winner of the famous trophy, he has to see off the challenge of Ernie Els who followed his opening round 66 (-6) with a bogey-free 68 for 134 (-10).
“How do I feel? I feel first,” smiled Jimenez, who won the Hong Kong Open earlier this season. “I hope I keep my game the way it is at the moment and set it up for the rest of the weekend. It’s nice to get in the lead of the tournament so early. I’m very consistent right now.”
Along with Welshman Stephen Dodd – who holds third place on -9 (135) – the Spaniard’s round of 65 was the best of the day and featured only one blemish when he bogeyed the ninth but eight birdies more than made up for it. For the spectators who enjoyed some brilliant Dubai sunshine, it now sets up a third day head-to-head between Jimenez and Els.
Jimenez is not one known to throw away leads easily but with the imposing figure of Els to contend with the Spanish star knows his concentration will have to be razor sharp if he is to stay ahead of the world number three who is chasing a hat-trick of Classic crowns.
“You have to think positive and try not to let things get to you,” added Jimenez. “You are human but you don’t have to think about who you play with and how they are. You have to try thinking of yourself but you never know what’s going to happen; we are human, you know?”
Els, meanwhile, remains focused on a record third crown in the US$2.2 million tournament after yet another round that showed he won’t be far away when the tournament reaches a climax tomorrow afternoon (Sunday).
“Obviously Jimenez is playing great golf at the moment as well as a lot of other guys,” said Els. “I felt like I really struck the ball well. I didn’t quite get my irons close enough and burned a lot of edges but I’m playing good golf and we’ll just see what happens over the weekend.”
But while Jimenez and Els look strong, they are being shadowed by a host of players waiting for the top two to slip. Former champions Thomas Bjorn and Colin Montgomerie are both tied for fourth on -7 (137) alongside South Africa’s James Kingston five shots behind the leader. Eleven other players sit on -6 (138).
Bjorn admitted to being delighted with his game after carding a second round 68 but feels that gap may just be too great. “There’s always going to be somebody out ahead, and you don’t like to see those two names but what can you do?” he said. "12-under over these two days is great, and 10-under is just as great. You can’t stop them if they keep playing like they are – it’s going to be very difficult.
Among the big names who’ll sit out the final two days of the Desert Classic is Greg Norman who withdrew from the event just 15 minutes before his second round tee time due to a back injury. However, the biggest casualty is defending champion Mark O’Meara whose defence of the title he won 12 months ago ended with rounds of 73 and 72 and a total of 145 ( 1).
Others who failed to make the cut – level par 144 – include former Open champion Paul Lawrie ( 2) and the three Gulf-based players Yasin Ali ( 6) and Andrew Whitelaw ( 15) from Dubai and Bahraini amateur Nasser Yacoob Saleh ( 9). For Ali, it was a cruel blow after he appeared to be heading for the final two days with relative easy before five dropped shots in three holes ended his interest in the tournament.
“I was cruising for 32 holes and then I got into serious bother,” said the 23-year-old Nad Al Sheba pro who picked up Dh100,000 for a hole in one on Thursday. “It all went wrong on the par three fourth and I’m absolutely gutted.”
In all, some 80 players made the cut and today’s third round will get underway at 6.55am.
Source – Dubai Desert Classic
