By Rahul Banerji
Shubhankar Sharma scripted a turnaround hitting a five-under par round on day two of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Friday.
Sharma followed his first round of one over par 73 with a 67 that had flashes of brilliance mixed with some off-colour putting.
The 22 year old had climbed into the top 10 at one point before a double bogey on the oar 5 14th hole dented his charge.
Sharma however did well to come back almost immediately with birdies on the 15th and 18th holes. By then, he had dropped one shot against six previous birdies riding once again on some steady putting.
Clean card
At the top of the leaderboard, Matt Wallace carded a bogey-free 65 to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at 11 under par 133 total.
The Englishman, on the lookout for his fourth European Tour title of the season and a first Rolex Series victory, has the chasing pack hot on his heels at the Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course.
Fellow-Englishman Danny Willett hit a 67 to sit in second at 10 under along with first-round leaders Adrian Otaegui and Jordan Smith.
Reigning Masters Champion Patrick Reed is a further shot back after a bogey-free 66 on nine under 135.
Fleetwood noses ahead
In the battle for the Race to Dubai, Tommy Fleetwood needs a win to have a chance of successfully defending his Order of Merit title. He was at eight under after a 67.
The Englishman also needs Francesco Molinari to finish outside of the top five, with a 73 leaving the Open Champion eight shots off the lead.
“I’m a much more mature person and I’ve had different experiences this year than I’ve had last year,” the 27 year old Fleetwood said later on the European Tour website.
“It’s still a very difficult task. I’ve only won once this year, it’s not like I’m a prolific winner this year. I’ve had chances and missed them.
“So I’m still trying to knock on that door and win a tournament, the same as everybody is.
“There’s so many different things going on but the situation is pretty black and white, just keep going and just put everything into it for another two days.
“We’ve got two rounds of golf left and you’re still in with a chance to win the Race to Dubai. It’s pretty cool and you’ll always take it.”
Also read: Jeev, the Royal Trophy at Hua Hin and a global golf award
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