GOLF – Ryder Cup teammates Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm reeled in Francesco Laporta yesterday to share a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship in the UAE.
Italian Laporta had led after a brilliant 62 on day one but a 70 in round two at Yas Links left the door ajar and close friends Hatton and Rahm took advantage.
Hatton carded a 65, two shots fewer than Rahm, and the pair – who are both looking for a record sixth Rolex Series victory – will head into the weekend at 12 under par alongside Laporta.
Rory McIlroy carded a 63 to sit one shot back alongside Pole Adrian Meronk and English pair Sam Bairstow and Matt Jordan.
The Northern Irishman is hunting an eighth Race to Dubai title, and with current leader Eugenio Chacarra back on three under, he is well positioned to advance his cause.
Hatton was a winner of this event in 2021 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club but seems equally at home at Yas Links with a second and two other top tens in four starts.
The Englishman birdied his first two holes and then made four in a row from the sixth to turn in 30.
Further gains followed on the 11th and 13th as he hit the front on his own but a bogey on the 16th dropped him back closer to the pack on a day where several players had held a share of the lead.
Event debutant Rahm went out in the final group of the day and was soon in front with birdies on the second, third and fifth.
He then made four birdies and three bogeys in a roller coaster next seven holes before a two-putt gain on the last put him back on top.
Laporta had a roller coaster of his own as he bogeyed the third but then made a hat-trick of birdies from the seventh.
He made a bogey-birdie start to the back nine and while a double on the 14th could have derailed his round, he picked the shots back up on the 15th and last.
“Really happy how I’ve played,” said Hatton.
“Obviously, there’s been a couple of mistakes. But overall, compared to where I’ve been at over the last month-and-a-half, it’s nice to put a couple of decent scores together again.”
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