Lowry keeps in touch as Fisher hits record 59
NO LONGER will Oli Fisher be known as simply Rory McIlroy’s best friend – he has his own golfing immortality now.
The 30-year-old from Essex became the first player in the history of the European Tour to shoot a 59 – and did so after fearing he was going to miss the cut at the Portugal Masters.
For 46 years, the Tour had waited for a pro to record the magical sub-60 number. The PGA Tour has witnessed 10 of them – and even, from Jim Furyk, a 58 – but for the game’s other main circuit the ball would not just drop.
Granted, the Victoria course in the Algarve was always ringed out as a possible venue – Scott Jamieson lipped out for a 59 in 2013 and Nicolas Colsaerts went similarly close in 2014 – but Fisher wouldn’t have been the player at the top of the list. The world No 287 came in having missed his last two cuts and after a level-par 71 in the first round which left him seven off the pace he was fearing another ‘MC’ on his result sheet.
“I was just trying to make the weekend,” Fisher said. “But after birdieing the first three holes, shooting real low was in the back of my mind.”
Fisher hit 10 birdies and an eagle on the fifth to set the record score and sit atop of the scoreboard where Shane Lowry remains in contention.
The Offaly man sits three shots behind Fisher on nine-under par after he followed up his opening 64 with a second-round, two-under 69.
Greystones’ Paul Dunne is well-placed after his second 68 yesterday to sit on six-under and six off the lead. Pádraig Harrington missed the three-under cut on level-par while Robin Dawson also missed out, finishing on two-over par. (© Daily Telegraph, London) Portugal Masters, Live, Sky Sports, 12.30pm