It is important to have context to properly analyse the facts. This is what is happening at the Earth course in Jumeirah right now. A young man named Ángel Ayora, only 21 years old and in his rookie season on the DP World Tour, is fully involved in the fight to secure one of the ten PGA Tour cards with 36 holes remaining to finish the course. Let’s appreciate the magnitude. Whatever happens in the remaining two rounds, what this young man from Malaga is doing is already remarkable.
He has thrown himself into the most interesting battle of the week thanks to a flawless card of 67 strokes in the second round of the DP World Tour Championship this Friday. Five birdies. He is in eleventh place, although the most important thing is that he is only two strokes away from second place, the result that (alone) would definitely give him the playing rights on the American circuit for 2026. Two strokes. 36 holes. 21 years. Rookie season. Ángel Ayora.
The golfer from Marbella has improved his performance from the tee on this second day. This has allowed him to leave himself better birdie opportunities. In fact, being meticulous, he could have signed an even better round. After all, he left up to three quite clear birdie putts between two and three metres on the course. Good chances.
However, if there is something to highlight today from Ángel’s round, it is two aspects: the three shots he hit from fairway bunkers on holes 1, 9, and 16 and two exceptional recoveries at the edge of the green on 14 and 18. The sand traps at Jumeirah are truly punishing, and it is not easy to get the ball to the green or its surroundings when they catch you. They swallow you up. Thus, making par on those three holes, especially on 9, is highly commendable. These are shots that sustain a round.
Then, the fireworks came with the short game. The chip on 14 from the left rough with the 8-iron was delightful, while the lob on 18 can be described as a masterpiece. On the first, he left the birdie given, and on the second, he paid homage as he should to the great shot by holing a four-metre putt for birdie. It couldn’t have been left any closer. Pure class. The landing area was the size of a shirt collar button, and he nailed it.
Ayora has regained some positions in the Race to Dubai with this round. In fact, he climbs a step and is placed 22nd in the projection. However, the real situation must be seen with a long-term perspective. It’s those two strokes. Two strokes. With 36 holes to go. At 21 years old. In his rookie year. That’s it.
Right now, in the fight for the PGA Tour card, there are two movements: Jordan Smith (+1) and Daniel Brown (-3) drop out of those ten chosen, and Rasmus Neergaard Petersen (-9) and Daniel Hillier (-9) come in. The Dane is today’s novelty, while the New Zealander is clinging on like a limpet. Alongside them are Penge, Reitan, Noren, Canter, Saddier, Parry, Haotong, and Nakajima.
The door has swung wide open. Ayora’s goal should be second place. Another two rounds of 67 strokes sound good to reach that target. That’s where the shots will be. Having players like Nicolai Hojgaard (-12), the leader, McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rose, or Lowry up there is not bad because they take points away from the others. However, it adds the difficulty that Ángel has to finish ahead of them. The classic double-edged sword. In any case, better them than those fighting for the ten cards.
As for the rest of the Spaniards, little movement this Friday. Jorge Campillo (-2) and Eugenio Chacarra (-2) are positioned from the middle downwards in the standings, while Nacho Elvira (+3), on one of those tricky days that golf occasionally reserves for you, has dropped to the last position with 77 strokes.
