Alejandro del Rey (-11) and Nacho Elvira (-11) are fully in the fight for victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after the second round. Del Rey delivered the best round of the day (64 strokes) and Elvira maintained the same solidity of recent times to deliver a valuable 68. Both are in the top 10, just three strokes behind the lead shared by Tommy Fleetwood (-14) and Aaron Rai (-14).
Del Rey has been one of the main protagonists of the day. Surely, if someone had told him while heading to the tee of the 3rd, he would have burst into laughter or, at least, looked at the visionary with a face of: “and you, what have you taken?” The day seemed to be going in the opposite direction. On hole 1, he hit a masterful second shot from the edge of the bunker and left himself a three-metre birdie chance. He putted just as he wanted, and when he thought he had made it, it took a strange turn and lipped out. The reaction was something like “weeeeeeeeeell…”. It’s okay, it’s only the first hole.
However, immediately after, he hit a magnificent drive on the 2nd, a par 5. He cleared 340 yards and left himself a 7-iron for his second shot. He missed the shot to the left and couldn’t make the birdie. There, instead of the weeeeeeeeeell, Alex told himself: “Don’t mess up, if we continue like this, we’re going down the drain…”. He made two more pars on the 3rd and 4th, both times putting for birdie from about five metres, and from the 5th, Alex’s two main weapons ignited… Clear the way, here I come…
He drove brilliantly and putted like on his best days. When these two things work, devastation ensues. He made six birdie putts from between four and eight metres. He signed a sensational eight-under-par stretch over 14 holes and waved to the leaders, joining them without even asking for permission. He has given himself a chance for the weekend and, above all, gained many points to get into the Dubai Final. Remember, he needs a result around the top 10 to ensure his season isn’t over yet.
Nacho Elvira, on the other hand, keeps adding up. At his own pace. Making very few mistakes. Showing overwhelming solidity. He hit 16 greens and only got into trouble twice. From one, on the 11th, he came out with a bogey, the only one of the week, and from the other, on the 12th, he made a masterful par with an approach and putt from 90 metres. The only frustration is that the bogey came on that par 5 where he made an eagle yesterday, the third easiest hole of the day. So, counting on fingers, it’s not hard to think he was very close to finishing -13… In any case, Nacho came out as the leader in South Korea the last week he played and is ready to repeat tomorrow when the third round ends. It won’t be easy, but he’s very well placed.
The rest of the Spaniards now need something very special to be able to fight on Sunday for the win. Surely, as special as the best round of the day and the best result of the weekend. Many birdies are still being made, and to be in the battle, coming from so far back, we’re talking about a weekend of at least -15. That’s pushing it.
Eugenio Chacarra (-7) shot 70 and still has a good top 10 or even better within reach. He could also win, but as we said, it would require something unique in Abu Dhabi. More difficult, but with the challenge of doing it, are Ángel Ayora (-5), who finished with a painful bogey on the 18th, Rafa Cabrera Bello (-3), Jorge Campillo (-2), and Manu Elvira (-2). Campillo is projected to be in 50th place, although his presence in Dubai shouldn’t be in danger. Meanwhile, Rafa and Manu have it very tough. The same: they need a stellar weekend.
