Day two of the Trophee Hassan II in Agadir saw a five-and-a-half hour delay due to very strong winds at the Golf du Palais Royal, leaving over half the field were unable to complete their second rounds.
Amongst them was the overnight leader, Damien McGrane, who only completed only five holes.
So it fell to former Ryder Cup hero Phillip Price to set the pace on Friday with five birdies in eight holes to take over at the top of the leaderboard. The Welshman, who beat Phil Mickelson as Europe won the Ryder Cup in 2002, moved to nine under par in Morocco.
Starting on the back nine at Golf du Palais Royal, Price parred his first five holes before a hat trick of gains from the 15th. Further birdies followed at the second and fourth as the 45 year old, who kept his European Tour card by the skin of his teeth last season, moved two shots ahead of overnight leader McGrane.
Nine years after winning the last of his three European Tour titles, Phillip Price put himself in a great position to add another with a second round 66.
Spain’s José Manuel Lara moved into solo second with a joint best-of-the-week 65, with Sweden’s Joel Sjöholm and South African James Kingston a shot further back the latter with a hole remaining.
“I was delighted with that today and I was very surprised by how calm it became throughout the day after this morning,” said Price. “It was really windy when we started so to go out there and shoot six under is really pleasing. It was rather unpleasant this morning so very pleased.
“I had a 05:25 alarm call this morning and then a five-and-a-half-hour delay. Thankfully I managed to have a little 20-minute power nap in the locker room during the delay and that really helped. But it was frustrating to go to the tee twice and not be allowed to tee off because it is difficult to get yourself in the right mood and then be called off.
“By the time we got to the tee for the third time I wasn’t sure if we were going to be allowed to go, but thankfully it died down and, as I said, I managed to play very well. I thought it was going to be a real battle today but it calmed down and I managed to calm down and played some really nice stuff.”
“I am playing better which is great,” said Price, who has not finished in the top 100 on The Race to Dubai since 2004 and last year took the 118th and final card.
“It is nice to feel that way again because it has been a long time since I have been anywhere near the top of the leaderboard. I just have to go back and relax now and wait till I have to get out there again because they will obviously have to finish the second round tomorrow morning and I will have a very late tee off to the third round.
“I can’t actually remember the last time I was leading after two rounds – it might even be as long ago as the European Open that I won in 2003 so to be up there again is a great feeling.”
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