Canberra's Millar continues to impress
IN: News | European PGA | Open de Andalucia (2008) | Round Two | by Bruce Young | 29 Mar 2008
Canberra golfer, Mathew Millar, continued his improvement on the European Tour when he added a second round of 69 to his opening round of 67 at the MAPFRE Open de AndalucÃa by Valle Romano to sit at the top of the leaderboard at 8 under alongside Sweden’s Peter Hedblom.
The 31-year-old finished 10th last week at the Madeira Islands Open in just his fourth start of the season. He recently recorded his best ever finish on the European Tour with a 4th place at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open.
Millar is playing his third season on the European Tour after initially qualifying via Tour School in 2005. He was forced back to Tour School late in 2007 after a season that saw him finish 125th on the money list but already in season 2008 he appears on track to, at worst, retain his status.
Millar completed his traineeship at the Belconnen Golf Club in Canberra in 1999 and hit the road. In his very first event as a professional he led the Victorian Open after the first round but missed the cut.
“I was beginning to think how easy it was and then it hit me.”
After several years battling on smaller tours, Millar decided on Europe after making the decision to recommit himself to the game in 2005 after his wife Claire had been injured in a car crash in 2004. It forced Millar to rethink his priorities. He worked nights as a barman at the Magpies Club in Belconnen and began to see Melbourne based coach Rowan Dummett. Now three years later the hard work and commitment is paying off.
“It’s exciting and it’s something new but now I have my opportunity,” said Millar referring to his 36 hole lead.
“It’s a short course but there are some tricks to it. It’s more my sort of course and is something good for me.”
Hedblom finished runner up to Arjun Atwal at the Malaysian OPen three weeks ago and so is in great form. Hedblom has had other good finishes this year in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so Millar and the rest of the field will need to be at their best to challenge him.
Robert Dinwiddie, Thomas Levet and David Lynn share third place at seven under and just one behind.
First round leader and defending champion, Lee Westwood, slipped to 6th place after a round of 73 but is only two shots from the lead as the event enters the weekend.
The only other Australasian in the field, Gareth Paddison made the cut on the mark, just his third cut made in seven starts but with a 15th place last week on the Madeira Islands there are signs of improvement.
