Hoyo 5 del Houghton Golf Club. Before you even step onto the tee, you’re almost aiming for a birdie. It’s the easiest of the day in the first round of the Joburg Open. Even more so in the afternoon, when the rain has finally given a respite, the course is receptive, and the wind has disappeared. It’s a par 5 being played at an average of 4.41. It’s manageable, but the birdie isn’t handed out like a raffle prize. You have to earn it.
Ayora reaches that point one under par. He has started in a textbook manner, with a textbook birdie on the 1st. However, the 5th becomes tricky from the start. Ah, that thing about counting birdies before playing the holes… The ball from the tee opens a bit more than expected and ends up in the right rough. The shot isn’t long, but upon reaching the ball, they discover it’s very mud-stained. A lot. Time to calculate and imagine what the ball will do…
It’s 190 metres to the flag. The norm says he should hit an 8-iron, but Juan Ochoa, Ayora’s caddie and coach, suspects it will come out as a flyer. You know, you make contact with the grass just before the ball, and it shoots out without spin, without control. For this reason, he recommends hitting the 9-iron. Ángel agrees. Moreover, the golfer from Marbella makes his own prediction: there was more mud on the left side of the ball, so he calculated it would open more than usual. They discuss it and agree. The plan is set.
The plan is exemplary. Just what that shot required. Of course, credit must be given to the execution. An idea would be worthless if not perfectly executed. Ayora’s shot is spectacular. The ball does exactly what they expect and rests gently and gratefully for the treatment two and a half metres away for eagle. And what if it’s not a birdie, but an eagle? Well, it was an eagle. Ah, that thing about counting birdies before playing the holes.
It was the shot of the day, and that’s saying something. Ángel has once again played great golf, at the level of a player who has already achieved three consecutive top 10 finishes on the DP World Tour and who doesn’t seem to be fazed by anything. Relentless. He made another birdie on the 9th, one more on the 11th, and another on the 14th, the latter after sinking a very good putt from just under five metres.
If we’re being picky and lamenting, we could still claim the birdie on the 13th. He hit another great shot, but missed a putt of just over a metre. Regardless, nothing to criticise about Ángel’s work on the greens today. Impeccable. He putted with conviction, and those that didn’t go in came very close. He still left the Houghton Golf Club today with a very good birdie chance on the 16th. It didn’t go in.
Ayora was left on the tee of the 17th. Play was suspended at 5:15 pm Spanish time. His score of six under par with two holes to go places him one shot behind the provisional leader, South African Luke Brown (-7), who has completed 12 holes. At the same time, he is tied with the leaders in the clubhouse, Jayden Schaper (-6), Maximilian Steinlechner (-6), and Nathan Kimsey (-6), all with their rounds finished. Another player who was coming on strong when play was stopped is Kieran Vincent, with a score of -5 in ten holes.
Jorge Campillo (-3) was also going at a good pace. He was left with a one-metre putt on the 13th hole. He had made three birdies and no bogeys. He has a round ahead to improve his position. Quim Vidal (+2) was able to finish his card.
Play will resume this Friday at 6:30 am local time, one hour earlier in Spain. The first round will be completed, and the second will begin. Play couldn’t be completed today as it was interrupted for more than two hours due to a thunderstorm. The forecast isn’t good for this Friday. Everything points to more interruptions, as a lot of rain is expected, and the course has already received quite a bit of water.
