Iván Cantero (-5) has made a great start at the Ras al Khaimah Championship. The best news, beyond the good result, a round of 67 strokes with six birdies, a solitary bogey and a provisional second place, is the happy reunion with his driver, which he had to penalise for inconsistency at times at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.
It should be noted that this week’s Al Hamra Golf Club is much more forgiving from the tee than the home of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, which helps to loosen up and do so with confidence, but the Asturian has nonetheless found a technical solution with the help of his coach Jordi García del Moral. Specifically, he was moving more than necessary during the backswing and they have sought to keep the club more on line and less inside. Two tweaks that have worked and have given peace of mind to the player from Llanes, who was even tempted to change his driver at the beginning of the week.
Cantero is unlikely to be a player who hits eleven or twelve fairways, but today he was much more solid in this area, with very good drives on 2, 8, 16, and 17, for example. In fact, he was more than reliable in all areas of the game. He was brilliant in recoveries, such as on 10, where he made a sensational bogey after going into the water, on 3, or even on 11, holing a birdie chip to add even more shine to the previous bogey. He could have even finished with a few more birdies if he had taken advantage of the good chances on holes 16, 17, and 18.
In any case, a great start for Cantero, second, four strokes behind Marcus Armitage (-9). The Englishman excelled on the greens. He holed everything. He made no less than eleven birdies. Even he was surprised by his performance around the hole. The playing conditions are more difficult than last year. The firmness of the greens is allowing the course to defend itself against the players. Moreover, a curious wind picked up at the end of the morning shift. It is the easiest that can blow there, assure those who are playing, but it still influences decision-making.
Cantero is the tip of the iceberg of a good start for the Armada in general terms. David Puig (-3) has once again offered a display of short game, as in the recovery on 16, and has hit great shots like on 12 to also get up there, provisionally in the top 10. Presenting his candidacy from minute one. The same as Joel Moscatel (-3), who has signed the second-best card of the season. A very solid round with four birdies and a solitary bogey. Aiming high.
Additionally, Pablo Larrazábal (-1) also beat the course, while the downside was for Ángel Hidalgo (+1) and Jorge Campillo (+2).
Beyond the Spaniards, Patrick Reed (-3) has also positioned himself in the top spots, taking advantage of the better morning conditions, as well as Bernd Wiesberger (-4) or the indomitable Padraig Harrington (-4).
