A day of low scoring on the coast of Macau today sees a tightly packed leaderboard with the top fifteen going into the weekend separated by just three strokes. Unfortunately, Graeme McDowell won’t be among them after a second-round two-over saw the Portrush man miss the cut.
Spaniard David Puig continues to show great form coming off the back of his season opening victory in Malaysia with a clean outward nine, turning at -3. With just a single bogey on the par-3 11th, Puig would come home in a run of four birdies in his final six to register an impressive -6 for the day and leave him tied on top with Jbe’ Kruger on-11. Kruger too would show some fine form today, a clean round with seven birdies to level with Puig.
Consistent showings from some of yesterday’s main protagonists to keep them in the hunt sees Chilean Mito Pereira sit a shot back alongside long hitting Swede Bjorn Hellgren, with the two recording rounds of four- and five-under, respectively. Pereira was poised to go low for the day, however a double followed by a single bogey on 15 and 16 would cool his charge.
Lurking with intent just a further shot back sit young Japanese Yuta Suguira, tied with the duo of Carlos Ortiz from Mexico and the US’s Pat Perez as we look to moving day Saturday.
Overnight leader Li Haotong could not maintain his form on day two with a disappointing two over par round dropping him back into the pack and uncomfortably close to today’s eventual cut line of four under. This was a target that Portrush man Graeme McDowell would fail to hit, with a disappointing quadruple-bogey seven at the par-3 sixth hole effectively ending all hope of a charge up the leaderboard.
Making the weekend however, are both Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter. Sergio certainly put on a show today with an exciting round seeing eagle two on the par-4 third and a second eagle on the par-5 final hole. A mighty seven under for the day would see the Spaniard surge up the leaderboard to earn a weekend tee time at five-under.
Poulter would put together a three under round to join Garcia at -5 and see him through to the business end of the tournament.
Notable mentions to Patrick Reed and Thailand’s Aphibarnrat sitting within striking distance going into the weekend with the duo on -7 and -8 respectively. No joy for returning American Anthony Kim who could not make moves today, going around in par but leaving him on +4 and will join those departing early this weekend.
“A good day”, said 22-year-old Puig after his round. “Kept it pretty good off the tee, which obviously helps. Pretty happy with my game and ready for the weekend”.
Pressed on any fatigue issues the Spaniard was suffering in playing his fifth tournament in succession, he replied: “I am tired, very tired. It wasn’t the best preparation for this week. I mean, spent a couple of days just in the hotel and played nine holes on Wednesday. But again, I’m playing pretty good. So hopefully I can keep doing the same this weekend and take the trophy home.”
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