Bad Light Stops McIlroy Duel

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Rory McIlroy started his second round with eight straight pars before a bogey on the ninth, where his pushed drive finished in rocks on the edge of a lake and dropped him back to five under par at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Playing partner Jordan Spieth was faring worse with bogeys on the fourth and fifth, and the world number one was lucky not to drop more shots on the ninth, where his drive was heading towards the water before hitting a spectator.

Andy Sullivan grabbed a one-shot lead on Friday, but he will have to wait and see if he still holds it when the second round concludes on Saturday morning.

There was a two hour and 45 minute delay in the morning due to fog, meaning some of the 60 players who have yet to complete their rounds will have as many as ten holes to play upon the resumption at 0740.

Second-placed Bryson DeChambeau will have nine to complete after picking up one shot on the back nine to get to nine under before the sun set over Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The 22 year old American is bidding to become just the fourth amateur in history to win on The European Tour and he has shown no signs of nerves in a field which includes four of the top ten players in Official World Golf Ranking.

Reigning Race to Dubai champion Rory McIlroy was five off the lead with five to play, level with playing partner Rickie Fowler and two shots clear of World Number One Jordan Spieth, who completed the marquee group.

But Sullivan is the man to catch after a second consecutive 67 for the Englishman who has good memories of his last visit to the Gulf states, when he pushed McIlroy all the way at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.

The 28 year old finished eighth in last season's Race to Dubai after claiming three wins and arrived here on the back of claiming three points out of three for Europe at last week's EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM.

He continued the theme of threes on Friday as he opened with three birdies from the tenth and, after dropping a shot on the 15th, he played a fantastic second shot from a fairway bunker on the first to set up another gain.

A bogey on the fifth dropped him out of a share of the lead but he put his tee shot on the seventh inside ten feet and rolled it in before picking up another birdie on the next to move ahead.

A closing birdie on the ninth from 25 feet then made him the first man this week into double figures.

"I think today was even more impressive than yesterday," he said. "I think yesterday, I had it under a lot of control and it felt quite easy.

"Today, started off great, lost my way through the middle part of the round and dug deep and finished really strong with three birdies.

"I think on the whole, much much happier with today and obviously it puts me in good stead finishing that way for the rest of the tournament."

He added: "I feel totally different coming in. This time last year, I had already won but still felt this tournament of this magnitude with the players, I knew that I would have to go some to do it.

"It's nice to do that, and obviously to go out there and actually put your A Game to the test is great."

Overnight leader DeChambeu quickly wiped out the advantage Sullivan had established in the morning as he holed from eight feet on the tenth and 15 feet on the 12th but a bogey on the par five 18th saw him drop to second.

Joost Luiten fired a 68 to sit at seven under in his first start since he finished in a tie for fifth at the season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The Dutchman, who started on the tenth, turned in 33 after making three birdies in four holes from the 15th. Six pars followed but a lengthy putt on the seventh handed him another red number to sit in the clubhouse three off the lead with Rafa Cabrera-Bello.

The Spaniard opened with a bogey on the tenth but had back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th and came back in 32 to post a 67.

Thomas Bjørn was also seven under through 11 holes as he got his 2016 campaign under way. Last year was only the second in his career that he failed to record a top ten but birdies on the first, fifth, seventh and tenth have put him in contention to quickly correct that.

England's Richard Bland completed the group three off the lead having also played 11 holes and he had birdies on the 14th, 15th and 18th.

Swede Peter Hanson fired a second consecutive 69 thanks to birdies at the ninth, 16th and 18th to sit a further shot back alongside David Howell who was two under for his round with two to play.

Richie Ramsay fired nine birdies in a 66 to get to five under alongside Ian Poulter who signed for a 69 despite playing with an injured thumb.

Matthew Fitzpatrick was also in that group after he showed considerable tenacity in a battling 71, alongside Matthew Baldwin, David Horsey, Trevor Fisher Jnr and Fabrizio Zanotti.

Then came McIlroy and Fowler, who endured contrasting fortunes in the 13 holes they completed.

Fowler had been overshadowed by his playing partners in round one but he picked up birdies on the second, eighth and 12th as McIlroy and Spieth failed to fire.

The Northern Irishman had 12 pars and a single bogey on the ninth while Spieth struggled off the tee and bogeyed the fourth and fifth before picking up a shot on the tenth.

Three-time winner Martin Kaymer was in the group at five under, two under for the day through 12 holes, with BMW PGA Championship winner Byeong-hun An also two under on the day having played 11.

The third round, going off the first and the tenth holes in three-balls, will not begin before 1045.

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McIlroy Has Number One in Sights

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Rory McIlroy will go head-to-head with Jordan Speith at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this week with the American's position as World Number One firmly in his sights.

McIlroy, Spieth and Jason Day have been battling it out for the top spot over the last 12 months with Spieth currently in pole position, followed by Day with McIlroy in third.

And on the eve of the first event of his Race to Dubai defence at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, McIlroy, who spent 95 cumulative weeks at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, is determined to regain that status this season.

"I still like to look at it and see where I'm at," he said. "Especially the strength of field for this week and how many points you would get for a win, so it's always there.

"I know I need to play well this week to leapfrog Jason. I think if I can finish second, I can get up above him.

"But I've made no secret about wanting to get back to that position, and I'd like to do it as quickly as possible. So it's definitely a motivation."

For his part Spieth, who won the Masters Tournament and the US Open Championship last season, is hoping to use the achievements of four-time Major winner McIlroy, and others, to spur him on to even greater things.

"You can be satisfied and think about all the stuff you've done or you can look at what these guys who you've looked up to your whole life have accomplished more than you have," he said.

"So look at Tiger (Woods), Phil (Mickelson), Rory, these guys that have done more in the game of golf than I have, and I want to strive to get to what they have done. I want my name to go down in history for as many things as it can. That's where my mind is, I'm less satisfied with what's happened and more hungry to try and keep it going.

"I understand that it doesn't happen overnight. It's a marathon; it's not a sprint. I'm willing to put in that time and go through the process. And you're going to have good weeks, you're going to have off weeks, I understand that. But as long as you can get just a little bit better each year, then the results will come."

To make any inroads into Spieth's lead, McIlroy will have to finish above the 22 year old this week, with Spieth coming into his first European Tour event outside Major Championships and World Golf Championships off the back of a win at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions where he finished 30 under par.

With a field including eight Major Champions, 89 European Tour winners, six European Tour Number Ones and five World Number Ones, however, the Northern Irishman knows that Spieth is not the only man to beat this week.

"I don't play the game on markers at all," he said. "I want to play my best, and I don't have to just beat Jordan Spieth this week. I have to beat another 142 guys.

"So it would be foolish of me to think that that's all that my competition was, I think it would be an injustice to every other player that's in the field because there's so much talent on Tour and there's so much depth that if you forget about everyone else that could win the tournament, it's not really smart to do that.

"I've had four runners-up and I've been close a couple of times. Hopefully I can change that this week."

This will be the seventh consecutive year that McIlroy has started his campaign in Abu Dhabi with those four second-place finishes all coming in the last five years.

He will tee it up alongside Spieth and Rickie Fowler on Thursday morning and is hopeful that he can once again use the event as a springboard to a successful season.

"It was a nice break over Christmas and new year," he said. "I felt like I needed it mentally and physically a little bit. So it was nice to take that extended break and come back feeling really refreshed and excited to go.

"I've said this before: I don't think there's any better place to start the year than here in Abu Dhabi with the weather, the golf course, the field that HSBC is able to put together.

"It's a real competitive start to the year, and I feel like it's really helped me start the year quickly and well over the past few years, and hopefully that's the same case this year.

"Teeing off on Thursday morning, it's your first competitive shot in a couple of months. To tee up alongside those guys, the excitement, there's a buzz about it.

"Every year coming back here to Abu Dhabi, it was sort of the same last year with Rickie and the previous couple of years it was with Tiger. You're teeing off the first round of your season and it feels like you're right into the thick of things at the start. So I think that's really beneficial for a lot of guys to start the year like that."

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Captain Clarke Ready for Battle

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Darren Clarke will put his captaincy skills to the test in this weekend’s EurAsia Cup before he tries to lead Europe to an eighth Ryder Cup victory in the last 10 contests in October.

Clarke insists the clash with the United States at Hazeltine will be at the back of his mind when his side take on Asia in Kuala Lumpur, although the parallels between the two events are hard to escape.

Ian Poulter, one of Clarke’s two wild cards, will partner Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger in Friday’s opening fourball match against Anirban Lahiri and Korea’s Jeunghun Wang.

Clarke’s other wild card and nine-time Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood has been entrusted with the anchor role, partnering fellow Englishman Chris Wood against Kiradech Aphibarnrat and SSP Chawrasia.

Yorkshiremen Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick could be another European pair in Minnesota and they face Byeong-hun An and Thongchai Jaidee, while Victor Dubuisson and Soren Kjeldsen take on Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung.

Ross Fisher and Kristoffer Broberg face Prayad Marksaeng and KT Kim before WGC-Bridgestone Invitational winner Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan play Wu Ashun and Shingo Katayama.

“Obviously there’s Ryder Cup stuff going on in the back of my mind with possible pairings, but first and foremost, it’s about the EurAsia Cup this week,” Clarke said.

“We’re here to try and win, as Jeev (Milkha Singh, Asia’s captain) is with his team. The thoughts and everything I’m trying to do is going towards this week.

“When we’re finished this week, if we come back with a few pairings and hopefully if I’ve learned something from this week come September, then so be it. First and foremost, it’s definitely this week and the EurAsia Cup.”

Poulter has been a talismanic figure in the Ryder Cup, earning the nicknames of ’Mr Ryder Cup’ and the ’Postman’ because he always delivers a point for the side.

The 40-year-old had won an incredible 80 per cent of his matches before the 2014 contest, but two halves and one defeat saw that drop to 72.22 per cent, with Justin Rose now just behind at 71.42 per cent after three wins and two halves at Gleneagles.

“The reason why I certainly like the Ryder Cup and obviously this format is because it’s the purest form of golf. It’s match play,” Poulter said. “You see your opponent right in the face and you can go out there and you can make a difference.

“You can hole a chip shot; you can hole a bunker shot; you can hole a long putt; you can turn a match around. In stroke-play events, that doesn’t really happen, but in match play, it does.

“The second you hit that first tee shot, you want to get your opponent off the golf course as soon as possible. This format really excites me.”

The inaugural contest in 2014 finished in a 10-10 draw after Asia fought back from being whitewashed in the opening session and trailing 7-3 heading into the singles.

“I’m really excited about this,” captain Singh said. “Both the teams are very strong. At the end of the day I think whoever holes more putts, good course management, that’s what it’s all going to come down to.

“Both the sides are really experienced. But I still feel my team looks very good. I’m positive, I’m excited, and I believe in my team that they are going to do really well.”

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Clarke Ready to Singh at Eurasia

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Captains Darren Clarke and Jeev Milkha Singh are predicting another close contest when the cream of Europe goes up against the might of Asia in the second edition of the EURASIA CUP presented by DRB-HICOM. 

The inaugural tournament in 2014 ended 10-10 after a thrilling final day fightback by the Asian team and, given how closely the sides are again matched this week, neither man would be surprised if it were to end in another draw at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. 

Clarke, who can call on the might of Ryder Cup veterans Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood in his 12-strong team, believes that whilst Europe may boast a marginally stronger line-up on paper, home advantage could prove pivotal for Singh’s side. 

He said: “We are playing in the Asian team’s backyard, so they are a bit more used to the heat and humidity than we are, which may give them a bit of an advantage. When the humidity comes with this sort of heat, it is quite oppressive. And it probably feels even hotter than the last time we were here. But with the co-sanctioned events we have in Asia, the Europeans do have experience playing here. 

“So it’s too close to call, and I think there’s a pretty good chance it could end in another draw. You have two very strong teams, and because it’s match play anything could happen. Hopefully it will be every bit as exciting as last time. Although I don’t know how our nerves will be at the end of the week!”

Those sentiments were echoed by Singh, who revealed it was an honour to be asked to follow Thongchai Jaidee as captain of the Asian team. 

Much like his predecessor, the genial Indian has vowed to adopt a relaxed approach to the role and will allow his charges to express themselves. 

“I believe in our players,” Singh said. “I know that all of them have the experience. They are used to the weather. They have played in Asia many times, and they play these kind of courses all the time.

“So I just basically have to make sure they are comfortable, happy, and relaxed. When all of these things are given to him, that’s when a player plays his best. And I don’t even have to tell them to try their best, because I know they are all going to give 100 per cent.”

The action gets under way on Friday with six fourball matches, followed by the foursomes on Saturday and concluding with Sunday’s 12 singles matches.

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Not Classic McIlroy at Honda

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Rory McIlroy endured a torrid start to the PGA Tour’s Florida Swing as he scrapped his way to a three-over 73 on the first day of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens.

The world No 1 struggled to get to grips with the blustery conditions at PGA National, losing a ball from his opening tee shot and finding water at the short fifth as he carded two double-bogeys in the first five holes.

The 2012 champion, who lost out to Russell Henley in a play-off last year, did manage to birdie the final two holes to limit the damage, but his main priority on Friday will be to make the cut rather than think about contending for the lead.

Jim Herman was the surprise outright leader after a commendable 65, the American being one of only two players to keep a bogey off his card in round one, while Padraig Harrington made a welcome return to form with a solid three-under 67.

Herman eased to the turn in 33 and picked up another shot at the 10th before birdies at two of the final three holes earned him a one-stroke lead over compatriot Brendan Steele, who mixed six birdies with two bogeys in his 66.

Harrington recovered from an early mistake at the second with birdies at the third and eighth and, like Herman, the Irishman also birdied 16 and 18 to round off an excellent day’s work. 

The three-time major champion was joined on three under by Martin Flores and US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed, who had only seven pars in a roller-coaster opening round.

Reed made three straight birdies from the third and added another at eight in an outward 31, but he then dropped four shots in six holes after the turn before further birdies at 16 and 18 lifted him back into the top three.

US Open champion Martin Kaymer was two over after five holes after starting on the 10th, but he birdied three of the next four and picked up another at the sixth to return a solid 68.

"It's not boring here, said the German. "Every single hole you have to think and be very creative. I enjoy it. It was a proper test. The wind was blowing from every direction."

Kaymer shares sixth with Ryder Cup team-mate Jamie Donaldson, who couldn't build on a remarkable start as he birdied three of his four four holes before dropped shots at the seventh and 10th halted his progress.

The Welshman hit back with a birdie at 14 and parred in to remain at two under, while Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Scotland's Russell Knox were a shot further adrift as only 19 players managed to break par by the end of the first day's play.

Lee Westwood holed his second shot to the 10th for eagle but then had a run of three bogeys in four holes and finished on one over alongside the likes of Ian Poulter and Phil Mickelson.

Sergio Garcia had an early triple-bogey on his card as he slipped to five over before recovering with three birdies in four holes to get back to two over - one better than fellow Gleneagles heroes McIlroy, Justin Rose and Victor Dubuisson.

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Olazabal Reckons on Rory Talent

Twice major winner Rory McIlroy is a "very special" talent and will lift many championship trophies if he carries on the way he is going, said European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal.

The 23-year-old Northern Irishman climbed to the top of the world rankings after following up his runaway eight-shot victory at the 2011 U.S. Open by winning last week's U.S. PGA Championship by the same emphatic margin.

"Rory's performance at (the PGA on) Kiawah Island was outstanding," Olazabal told Reuters in an interview.

"His focus and passion are very special. It is great to see a young man of his age with two majors under his belt and such a strong mind.

"If he continues his work ethic and his love for the game he will achieve more major victories."

It is just over a month before the European holders take on Davis Love III's United States team in the Ryder Cup in Illinois.

Olazabal is busy finalizing his plans for the biennial team event and declined to confirm whether McIlroy would reprise his successful 2010 pairing with fellow countryman Graeme McDowell at the Medinah Country Club from September 28-30.

"It is too early to say anything about pairings yet," said the 46-year-old Spaniard. "When we are all in the team room we will do our pairings and have our conversations.

"One thing's for sure though and that is Rory's passion and emotions will be part of the team spirit for sure," added Olazabal, who is also an ambassador for the Nespresso Trophy UK Challenge finals for amateurs at Archerfield Links in Scotland from September 26-28.

McIlroy's victory at Kiawah Island ended a 13-month wait for a European major winner.

Since Darren Clarke's victory at the 2011 British Open, the big four titles had gone to American trio Keegan Bradley (2011 U.S. PGA), Bubba Watson (U.S. Masters) and Webb Simpson (U.S. Open) and to South African Ernie Els at this year's British Open.

Olazabal, however, is not too worried about the strong recent form shown by the Americans at the majors.

"If we were to be concerned that would be the wrong mindset going to Medinah," said the Spaniard.

"I am confident we will have a strong team especially with a number of players finishing among the top 10 on the leaderboard at the British Open and at the U.S. PGA.

"I am not worried about anything... I know how good my players are," he said referring to the likes of McIlroy, world number two Luke Donald, fourth-ranked Lee Westwood, number seven Justin Rose and 13th-ranked McDowell.

Olazabal, who had a proud Ryder Cup record as a player and formed the most successful partnership in the competition alongside his close friend Seve Ballesteros, said he was particularly pleased at last week's showing by Rose, Ian Poulter and Peter Hanson.

Poulter, who reeled off five birdies in as many holes at the start of his final round on Sunday, fellow Englishman Rose and Swede Hanson all finished in the top 10 at Medinah.

"It was a great performance coming down the stretch by those guys," said Olazabal. "It shows you how good these players are under pressure when it comes to performance at the highest level."

English journeyman David Lynn caused the biggest surprise at the PGA Championship by finishing second in his first tournament appearance in the U.S.

Olazabal will have two wildcard players to select for his 12-man team after the final Ryder Cup points-counting event, next week's Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland, but he was reluctant to share too much information on his plans.

"David Lynn performed great last week," said the 1994 and 1999 U.S. Masters champion.

"I have a list of players that I watch closely and it is too early to give any (wildcard) indications now."

Source: Reuters

Monty European Ryder Cup Warning

Colin Montgomerie has warned every European star basing himself in the United States - and that includes Rory McIlroy again next season - that they run the risk of not making the Ryder Cup.

The qualifying race starts again in Switzerland next week with the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Montgomerie found leaving out world number nine Paul Caseyl ast year the hardest thing he had to do as captain - and he hopes his successor Jose Maria Olazabal does not face the same dilemma next August.

The pair play together in the first two rounds of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on Thursday and Friday and Montgomerie said: "No doubt we'll have a chat on the way round."

Olazabal has opted for only two wild cards instead of Montgomerie's three - and three did not prove enough to get either Casey or Justin Rose, twice a winner in the States during the qualifying period, into his side.

"I think it surprised us all that a world top-10 player didn't make it and I do hope that Olazabal doesn't have that same issue," Montgomerie continued.

"I hope it's more cut and dried for him that it was for me and that the two picks are obvious."

Risk

However, Montgomerie added: "If you base yourself in America you are taking a risk to make the Ryder Cup team, quite simple."

Casey lost out to the uncapped Edoardo Molinari, choosing to play in the (non-counting) first leg of the FedEx Cup play-offs in New Jersey, whereas the Italian birdied the final three holes to win at Gleneagles 12 months ago.

Rose, Padraig Harrington and Luke Donald were also in the States despite Montgomerie asking them all to fly to Scotland instead.

"I feel that Olazabal will have a stronger representation of Ryder Cup players next year than I did," he said.

"It's quite straightforward. If you don't make the top 10 you might not make the team and you can't rely on a pick."

The first five of the team for Chicago next year will be based on their European Tour earnings and the next five from their world ranking points during the 12-month race.

Another of the PGA Tour members hoping to make Olazabal's side is leading Scot Martin Laird,currently ranked 25th in the world - but he will not start earning points until January.

Scottish hopes

That is because he did not want to commit to 13 European Tour events this season.

"That's unfortunate for him and for Scottish golf," added Montgomerie.

"At the same time Molinari managed to make the team starting from the Challenge Tour. He proved to the captain - me - that he was capable of playing the Ryder Cup and it's up to Martin Laird now to do what Edoardo Molinari did.

"Win three times, get as close as he possibly can to qualification and be one of those two picks of Olazabal's if he doesn't qualify.

"I wish him well, of course. It's been 2006 since a Scot has represented the team and that's too long."

Montgomerie was that player himself and although he is currently down at 285th in the world the 48-year-old has not given up all hope of earning a ninth cap.

He is glad just to be back playing this week. His last event was the Scottish Open at the start of last month and after briefly leading it early in the final round he fell back to 31st and so still has not had a top five finish for over three years.

Molinari is back to defend his title against a field that also includes his brother Francesco, leader after 54 holes last year, Dane Anders Hansen, third in the USPGA Championship, and Irish Open winner Simon Dyson.