Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal leads his national open by two shots at the halfway stage courtesy of a level par second round of 71 on brutal day for scoring at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
The notoriously tough Real Club Valderrama bared its teeth with only two players – France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Sweden’s Peter Hanson – posting under par rounds and the cut falling at nine over par.
After opening with a three under par effort of 68 on Thursday, Larrazábal predicted that three subsequent level par rounds would win the tournament because of tougher conditions. The four-time European Tour winner achieved the first of those by carding four birdies in the opening ten holes of his second round, before a bogey on the second – his 11th hole – and treble bogey on the third meant he dropped back to level par for the day to remain at three under par for the tournament. Andrew Johnston is the only other player under par after 36 holes, the Englishman posting a three over par round of 74 to trail Larrazábal by two strokes on one under par.
First round leader Alex Levy, of France, is a further shot back on level par following a round of 76, and he is joined in a share of third place by Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares and defending champion James Morrison, both of whom signed for rounds of 75.
Tournament host Sergio Garcia carded a credible level par round of 71 and is six shots back going into the week at Real Club Valderrama, where he won the Andalucía Masters in 2011.
Meanwhile, Finland’s Roope Kakko aced the par three 12th hole with a seven iron from 208 yards, making the 16th hole-in-one on the European Tour this season.
Pablo Larrazabal –72 (-3 total)
To shoot level in these conditions is a great feeling and to have a chance on the last to go into the red figures is something really special. I only missed one shot today really bad, and I made triple bogey. I made so many great saves – like on 17th the putt I made from the back of there was great. I didn’t play my best golf, but on another golf course I would have gone six, seven under par because of the way I fought, so I’m very pleased.
If the wind blows like this, a level par, or more, total will win this. If I shoot level par, level par over the weekend I will be in the fight.
Andrew Johnston – 74 (-1 total)
I’m fairly happy with the score, I chipped, putted and drove the ball well, but disappointed with the way I hit my irons. I’m in a good position, I tried to play hole by hole really and make pars – if I made birdies then that was a bonus. I had to keep it on the fairways, and not get greedy. You can’t afford to get annoyed – I made double bogey on the third, and I walked off like nothing had happened and not worry about it and just carry on, because that is what the course can do to you.
Alex Levy – 76 (level par total)
It is one of the best five over par rounds I have played in my life. I played good today but it was really, really tough. I’m exhausted now. It’s cool to play in these conditions and see how you do. It’s nice to shoot fiver over today. I did a few bad things but it is good to shoot a score like that and be around the leader. I fought a lot on the course today. I started very badly and was three over after three holes but I stayed patient. Not all the time but I tried and I had a good back nine. It’s part of maturity.
James Morrison – 75 (level par total)
I think is about level par isn’t it?! That was a hard round out there today, wind was up first thing, it’s a hard golf course when there is no wind, let alone when there is a breeze and it was quite cold this morning. I didn’t play great, but I scrambled pretty well, had an average finish, but pretty happy with it.
Sergio Garcia – 71 (+3 total)
I’m definitely happy with a 71. Every day is tough at Valderrama, but today was very testing. The wind was blowing, and it was a little bit gusty. I’m a little disappointed with the three putt on the last. I saw Chris Wood hit it a little short, and thought I needed to give it a bit. Other than that I thought it was a pretty good day. I am obviously not feeling 100%, but I’m trying my hardest. I’d love to shoot under par round here, because under par on this course the way it is playing is always great.
It is playing the toughest I’ve seen, because since the early 2000s when we were here, the rough is definitely thicker than I’ve seen I before – it makes chipping even tougher, which is usually always difficult round here. It’s no surprise there are only two players under par – I said at the beginning of the week that the way the weather is, under par or around par is going have a chance of winning.
