Hole-in-one for Molinari in Abu Dhabi

Whilst every golfer dreams of a hole-in-one – the author of this piece is still waiting to hit his first – Italian golfer Franceso Molinari has carded his second ace during his second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

One half of the victorious Italian team which won the golf World Cup, Molinari aced his seven iron tee-shot on the 162-yard fourth hole of The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club en route to a second consecutive four-under-par 68.

Molinari now trails halfway leader Rick Kulacz, who overtook Sergio Garcia, Shaun Lowry and Peter Hanson at the top of the leaderboard with a round which featured 11 birdies in a nine-under-par 63, by four shots. Kulacz has a one-stroke lead going into the weekend.

“It was a good shot, but I was fortunate Oliver Wilson hit before me with the same length and he hit a seven iron just past the flag so I knew I had to hit it a bit softer than normal and I had the luck for it to go in,” he said. “I knew the club was right, but you still have to be lucky.”

There was no prize on offer for Molinari however. Unfortunately for the Italian, the feat was only worth prizes if a hole-in-one was scored at either the 12th or 15th holes.

Molinari scored his first career hole-in-one at the 2008 Malaysian Open, while it was the third in the tournament’s history after Darren Fichardt in 2006 and Alvaro Quiros last year recorded aces in the event.

Garcia moves to the fore in Abu Dhabi as Westwood falters

Shane Lowry carded a bogey-free second round 65 to join Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Peter Hanson in a share of the lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Lowry, who won the Irish Open in 2009 as an amateur, missed consecutive birdie putts inside of five feet at the start of his round but recovered reach the turn in 33 – three-under par before eventually signing for a seven-under par score.

Garcia, the world number 13, dropped one shot in his 67, while Peter Hanson – like Lowry – also recorded an error-free round on his way to the same score. Garcia is playing in his first event since returning from a hand injury, but so far has shown little signs of its effect, despite claiming he has not fully recovered.

Martin Kaymer, champion in 2008 and last year’s runner-up produced a second consecutive 67 to join Challenge Tour graduate Rhys Davies, who was another player to card a bogey-free round. Both players find themselves one shot behind the leading trio at 10-under-par.

Overnight leader Ian Poulter slipped to a round of 70, but shares sixth place with Rory McIlroy and Challenge Tour number one Edoardo Molinari, Richard Green of Australia and Ariel Canete of Argentina. McIlroy will no doubt curse his putter which saw him miss three birdie putts from inside six feet during his front nine.

The other joint-overnight leaders – Keith Horne and Richard Bland – endured mixed fortunes. Horne carded an early birdie to move to eight-under par, but gave the shot back to finish with a level-par 72 and remain seven-under par while Bland slumped to a two-over par 74 to drop to five-under par.

Lee Westwood, however, is staring at an early exit from the tournament after a nightmare round saw the European number one ship six bogeys to drop to three-over par.

With some players still out on the course, the lead could yet change heading into the weekend’s play. With the wind expected to blow stronger across the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, conditions could be troublesome for the later starters.

Kaymer to keep plates in for 2010 season

Germany’s Martin Kaymer will play the 2010 season with the plates and screws that were inserted into his foot following a go-karting accident still in place. The accident effectively ended any chance the German held of winning the Race to Dubai and becoming the European number one.

Kaymer, who is in contention to make his Ryder Cup debut for Colin Montgomerie’s European team at The Celtic Manor resort, recorded back-to-back wins in 2009 before the accident, which broke four toes in August.

After returning to action, Kaymer eventually finished in 3rd place on the money list but a tight schedule for 2010 has scuppered any chance the player has to undergo further surgery before the end of the season.

In an interview Kaymer revealed that the injury hasn’t healed 100% and that he will need to have the plates and screws removed, but his doctor advised him that he could face two to three weeks on the sidelines to recover afterwards.

Kaymer began his 2010 season at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship where he carded an opening five-under par round of 67. The player enjoys this venue, having won in 2008 and finished runner-up in 2009.

Poulter shares early lead in Abu Dhabi

England’s Ian Poulter took the first round honours in Abu Dhabi with a 7-under par 65 to claim a share of a one-shot lead in the Abu Dhabi Championship. His round was matched by fellow countryman Richard Bland and South Africa’s Keith Horne.

Poulter’s round included seven birdies, the highlight of which was a last-hole 70-foot putt which would have gone ten feet or more past the hole if it hadn’t dropped. Poulter, the world number 12, netted four birdies on the front nine and a further three on the back nine.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia – back playing after an injured hand – and Irishman Rory McIlroy shot rounds of 66 to follow in a group of nine players, which includes Peter Hanson, Alex Noren, Alvaro Quiros and Paul Lawrie – the 1999 British Open champion.

World number 4 and European number one Lee Westwood opened with a three-under 69 and is part of a group tied for 25th place.

Defending champion Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy of New Zealand both carded level par rounds of 72, while European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie carded a one-over round of 73.

YourGolfTravel’s pick for the title, Germany’s Martin Kaymer opened his challenge with a five-under par round of 67 to share 13th place with three other players.

The day’s worst round came from New Zealand’s Michael Campbell who carded a dismal eleven-over par 83.

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Preview

Thursday sees the European Tour move from South Africa to the Middle East and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship represents the first tournament on the Middle East segment of the tour.

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