Spain’s Angel Hidalgo was one of three clubhouse leaders on day two of the DP World India Championship at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday as the tournament strives to make up for time lost on the first day. Image courtesy DPWIC.
Weather delay spills over into day two of DP World India Championship
By Rahul Banerji
A three-way tie for the clubhouse lead marked the second incomplete day of action in the $4 million DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club on Friday.
More than half the field of 144 was yet to complete round two with 12 polayers not event able to tee off thanks to the gathering darkness as was the case on the opening day.
Given that, Spain’s Angel Hidalgo, Joost Luiten of the Netherlands and Poland’s Adrian Meronk shared the clubhouse lead in a crowded leaderboard with just a handful of Indians still left in contention.
Om Prakash Chouhan could only complete two holes to stay on 4 under par, four shots behind the leaders.
Saptak Talwar (seven holes), Anirban Lahiri, Shiv Kapur (completed) and Karandeep Kochhar (16 holes) were on or just above the projected cut line, currently sitting at level par.
Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood had got to 4 under in four completed second round holes and was alongside event favourite Rory McIlroy who opened with an eagle three on hole one, PGA champion Aaron Rai and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre.
Former Indian Open champion Marcel Siem (70-69) of Germany also put in a second round charge to reach 5 under 139 after 36 holes, while The Open winner Ryan Fox (76-70) of New Zealand was all but out of contention on 2 over 146.
Under pressure
Five hours were lost to Thursday’s storm and though conditions were ideal on day two, the spillover effect forced some in the field to play 36 holes in an effort to help tournament officials bridge the gap.
Of the lead trio, Luiten needed to cover 34 holes to return rounds of 68 and 68 for an 8 under total, while Meronk and Hidalgo both played 31 holes.
The Polish Prince was five under after four holes on Thursday but added just one more gain in his first round before returning to card a 69, while the flamboyant Hidalgo also posted two scores of 4 under 68.
Thomas Detry of Belgium could manage only six holes in round two and birdied three of them to also be on 8 under one shot ahead of England’s Todd Clements and Eddie Pepperell.
Former Hero Indian Open winner Eugenio Chacarra of Spain was also at seven under after five holes in his push to top the Race to Dubai Rankings where he sits in second place behind Patrick Reed.
The American ace had a rough day at the DGC, dropping a bogey and a triple to find himself right oh the projected cut line that will send the top 65 and ties into the weekend.
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner Meronk held the solo lead on Friday with four in round two but was pulled back by a closing bogey.
Solid golf
“It was a lot of solid golf,” he said later. “I’m happy with my position. Obviously a little bit disappointed with the bogey on the last, but it’s still a good round and I’m happy with the day of work.
“It suddenly feels like I’m gaining the momentum, the confidence is growing and it’s a great feeling. Just when you really can trust your golf game, when you hit shots to your targets, it’s just so much fun.
“I think finally, yeah, the game is in a good spot and I am just trying to enjoy it and play to my spots and keep on going.”
Luiten was also at 9 under with six birdies but was tripped up by a late double-bogey.
“It was good for 17 holes, and then the eighth hole, I double bogey, which normally you would say it’s a birdie hole.
“I think the long day and the tiredness just got to me a bit at the end and luckily I could get a birdie on the ninth. It’s been a good day.
“I struggled with some injuries in the middle of the season, so that doesn’t really help. Luckily now it’s all a little bit better so I can practise a little bit more and then you can work on your game.”
Recent form
Hidalgo was runner-up at the Open de France and also made six birdies against a double bogey.
“Pretty good,” the colourful Spaniard said. “Especially in this course. It’s pretty tight. Pretty happy with the way I’m playing these two rounds. Looking forward to the weekend.
“I’m hitting a little bit better the ball. Last year I play super good from the tee but I couldn’t hole a putt and I played terrible from the fairway.
“This year everything is quite okay, so that’s why we are there and it’s the biggest difference from a last year.”
Also read: Big-hitting Nørgaard is surprise early leader at weather-hit DPWIC
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