A Swede, an Englishman, an Italian, a Czech, a Spaniard, a Swiss, a Filipino, a South African, a Frenchman and an Austrian. Ten players of ten different nationalities make up the top ten of the Volvo China Open after the second day. The screenshot of the top of the table is worth keeping. And, although it is a coincidence, a chance as random as it is peculiar, it is also a reflection of the very essence of the DP World Tour, undoubtedly the most global circuit in the world, considering the melting pot of nationalities of its members as well as a calendar that covers almost every corner of the planet.
Sebastian Soderberg (-16), by the way, continues to lead this interesting UN sample after signing a 65 on the second day. The Swede, let’s remember, comes from being second in his last two appearances in India and Japan, and now leads with a three-stroke advantage over his immediate pursuer, the Englishman Paul Waring (-13). Soderberg, therefore, seems a safe bet to win, but he has the most complicated part left and he, let’s be clear, has never been characterized by being a great finisher of tasks. However, right now he is, without a doubt, in the best moment of his career and deserves all the confidence.
The Spaniard who has placed himself up there, in the last matches on Saturday, is none other than Adrián Otaegui (-11), and that even though he closed the round with a bogey on hole 18, the first he has signed all week, to finish handing in a card of 66 strokes. Be that as it may, the Guipuzcoan has played solid golf and, as if he didn’t want the thing, he may have the option this weekend to add his fifth victory on the European circuit, big words. Because in addition Adrián is only 31 years old, although it seems that he has been with us all his life.
Is it worth reminding us of the accounts of what the Basque needs to get into the PGA Championship, the second Major of the year? Let’s do it, even though there is still too much to cut in the course of the Hidden Grace Golf Club (Shenzhen, China). To start, Otaegui would need to win. And then, that the Swede Svensson finishes twelfth or worse, that Aphibarnrat does it fifth or worse and that Bairstow or Veerman do not finish second. All very complicated, starting with the mandatory requirement of victory, but possible after all at this stage of the week.
Also on the weekend will be Alex del Rey (-7), who is not so far from the hot zone of the table, Manu Elvira (-6), Nacho Elvira (-5), Santi Tarrio (-4), Iván Cantero (-3), who overcame a triple bogey in the final stretch of his round (hole 13) with birdies on holes 17 and 18, Pablo Larrazábal (-3) and Rafa Cabrera Bello (-3). The Canarian, with some final stresses (three bogeys in his last four holes) has made the cut, breaking the terrible and dangerous dynamic he had of six consecutive missed cuts.
