Green light for Australians
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2009 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship | Round Two | 17 Jan 2009
Two Australians named Green lead share the lead at their respective tournments after the second round in the European and PGA Tour events this week.
In Abu Dhabi, Richard Green’s second round of 65 swept him into a share of the lead with England’s Graeme Storm while in Honolulu Nathan Green added a second consecutive 66 to be at 8 under and tied with Tom Pernice at the completion of 36 holes at the Sony Open.
In Abu Dhabi there were several players remaining on the golf course when play was called for darkness on day two but it seems unlikely that Green and Storm can be caught when the players return to complete round two on Saturday.
Nathan Green played in the morning field on day two in Hawaii and while he faced difficult conditions throughout his round, the afternoon field had to battle much harder and the Novacastrian’s 8 under par total was never in real danger of being headed. In fact it took a brilliant eagle at the last by Pernice late in the day for anyone to catch him.
Green’s practice over the Xmas break was restricted due to a knee injury that has bothered him for some time but back and refreshed he was keen to play and is well placed to challenge for his first PGA Tour title.
“Yeah, I’ve played well,” said Nathan referring to his liking for the Waialae Country Club. “My first year, I came in fifth. I just like the golf course. I think I’ve always hit the ball reasonably low, and it’s just whether I putt well on the greens as to how I play, and I’ve sort of done reasonably on the greens so far.”
“I just like the course. I think it’s one of the best courses we play all year. It’s dead-flat, but it rewards guys for hitting it straight and not necessarily have to be a long hitter. I think you’ve sort of got to hit it to the corners a fair bit. It’s got a lot to do with controlling your ball.”
Last week’s Mercedes-Benz champion, Geoff Ogilvy, looked a potential danger to Green early in his round and actually moved within one of the lead through 12 holes but two late bogeys saw him finish at 5 under and three behind.
Adam Scott recovered from a slow start yesterday with a round of 66 to be in 16th position while Victoria’s Marc Leishman, making his PGA Tour debut impressed with a second round of 66 to be in 25th position, sharing that with New Zealander Tim Wilkinson amongst others.
Jarrod Lyle was the only other Australian to make the cut and is in 38th position at 1 under.
John Senden, Aron Price, Peter Lonard, Greg Chalmers and James Nitties, will all have the weekend on the beaches in Hawaii if they so choose.
In Dubai, Brett Rumford now back playing the European Tour courtesy of his victory in Switzerland in 2007 is just two shots behind the lead of Green and Storm’s.
New Zealand amateur Danny Lee is in 19th position at 6 under and five behind the lead while Robert Allenby and Scott Strange are one shot further back, Mark Brown is 40th, Rod Pampling 51st and Aaron Baddeley 64th.
