– Rafa Cabrera Bello (-6) and Josele Ballester (-5) seem determined to keep the extraordinary streak of Spanish golf alive. It all started with Josele’s victory in Saudi Arabia, followed by the magnificent triumph of David Puig at the Australian PGA last Sunday, and now it could all culminate in a crazy hat trick at the Crown Australian Open.
There’s still a long way to go, no less than 36 holes, but at least their candidacy, and a very serious one, is presented at Royal Melbourne. Both are three and four strokes behind the leading duo composed of Danish Rasmus Neergaard Petersen (-9) and the surprising Portuguese from the School, Daniel Rodrigues (-9). Results pending the completion of the afternoon session.
– Rafa delivered a card of 67 strokes this Friday, one of the best of the morning in Melbourne. It was one of those rounds so common in the career of the Canary Islander when he showcased his best version week after week on both sides of the Atlantic. A best version that seems to be recovering week by week for some time now. It was a bogey-free round, with four birdies. Very commendable. He has only committed one bogey in 36 holes. Cabrera achieved the birdies in pairs, on the 13th and 14th and on the 1st and 2nd.
– The key to Rafa’s success has been the hallmarks that have always accompanied his golf: solidity and consistency. He is hitting many fairways, many greens, and recovering reliably when needed. One bogey in 36 holes, with the wind that blew on Thursday and the difficulty of recovering presented by the Australian greens, says it all.
– That same consistency is what Josele Ballester has been showing for weeks. The player from Castellón scored 68 strokes today, with five birdies and two bogeys. He finished with two very valuable birdies on holes 7 and 8 to get to the top. Of his last 18 rounds played, that is, from the Open de España until today, he has only played over par on two occasions. He is in fine form and, above all, displaying a golf game with very few flaws.
– Rafa and Josele have entered the fight for everything in this Australian Open. Victory is within reach and, consequently, qualification for the Masters Tournament (reserved for the winner) and The Open Championship (reserved for the top three not already exempt). Neergaard Petersen, by the way, does have his place secured, so he does not count for the British.
– As for the rest of the Spaniards playing in the morning, Sebas García (-1) has secured the cut with a round of 69 strokes, the same as Rocco Repetto (-1), who delivered a result of 70 strokes. Two cuts in the first two tournaments of the year for the two players from the HotelPlanner Tour. Not bad at all. Starting to add up from the beginning.
– The downside of Friday’s morning session was for David Puig (+2). The player from La Garriga was left out of the cut at the final part of his round. He had built the comeback he needed to play the weekend with a magnificent partial of four birdies in five holes in his first eight. However, a short circuit on holes 5, 6, and 7, with a partial of four over, left him with no options. It is the first cut he misses in a regular tournament of the DP World Tour.
– Beyond the Spaniards, the leader is the aforementioned Neergaard Petersen, a player who intends to get his homework done before embarking on the adventure in the PGA Tour, a circuit for which he has the card, earned through the Race to Dubai 2025. Two strokes behind Rasmus and Rodrigues is Mexican Carlos Ortiz (-7), who is playing the Australian Open with the aim of getting into the Majors.
– Other names well positioned at the top are: Wenyi Ding (-6), Daniel Hillier (-6), Si Woo Kim (-6), or Ryan Fox (-6). The big disappointment of this Australian Open is Joaco Niemann (+7), who is miles away from the cut with two rounds of 75 and 76 strokes.
