A very tough day in Bahrain. Only three players have managed to score under 70 strokes on the moving day of the Bahrain Championship. A persistent wind, although somewhat softer than yesterday, and some rather hidden flags, have led everyone to the edge for the 18 holes. It was time to be patient, commit more than ever to the shots and putt with all the faith in the world and a little more.
That’s what Sebastián García Rodríguez (-7) has done, and that’s why he has presented a card of 70 strokes that leaves him with chances of victory for Sunday. The Madrid player has placed fourth, five strokes behind the leader, the South African Dylan Frittelli (-12).
Five strokes is a considerable difference, but on a windy day, like the one also expected this Sunday, although somewhat softer than today, and flags that will again be spicy, the swings in the classification are more than likely. Yes, five strokes are not few, but Sebas only has three golfers ahead. He needs to do well in the last round and hope for some collaboration. Ahead, in addition to Frittelli five strokes away, he has Ockie Strydom, three away, and Jesper Svensson, two away. Yes, it can be done.
It can be done especially if the Madrid golfer continues to hit the irons with the same precision as he has done today. He has signed five birdies this Saturday, without taking advantage of any of the par 5s, and four of them have been practically given. He has only put a long birdie putt in the 1, about ten meters. Sebas’ swing is greased and on days where conditions are difficult, something like this is worth a fortune.
Another very important aspect of his round today is that he has known how to react very well when it seemed that the round was escaping him. He started off wonderfully with three birdies in the first six holes, but his push was going down the drain as a three more partial in eight holes. It seemed there that he was saying goodbye to the chances of victory, but two sensational shots on the 16 and 18, put him back on the victory train.
Frittelli has helped to leave that small door open with an abrupt end of round. Until the 17th he has played sensational golf, full of concentration and with an impressive range of good strategic decisions. However, in the final stretch he has complicated himself. On the 17th he has saved a spectacular par after going into the water off the tee with a club decision that is hard to understand. He hit the driver, putting the water in play, when he with his advantage had no need. And on the 18th he hit a bad second shot and was not able to make approach and putt, even though after ten minutes of discussions he was able to get the referees to grant him a drop for the obstruction of a sprinkler and, consequently, significantly improve the position of his ball.
Frittelli, after his move to the PGA Tour, has returned to the DP World Tour to try to give a new boost to his career. At 33, he will seek his seventh professional victory, the third of his career on the DP World Tour and the first coming out as a leader.
The downside of the day was for Alex del Rey (-1). He has dropped more than forty places in the classification after handing in a card of 79 strokes. He started badly, with three bogeys in seven holes, managed to react very well with two almost consecutive birdies on holes 8 and 10, but a bad finish, with a bogey, triple bogey and double bogey in six holes, made him lose many positions.
In addition, Santi Tarrio (PAR) and Pablo Larrazábal (+1) have handed in a card of 73 strokes, insufficient to take advantage of the moving day.
