Law forced to dig deep to remain in touch at top

IT wasn’t nearly as spectacular on a dreich second day in the Close House bio-bubble but David Law (right) ensured he kept his momentum going to stay well in the hunt for the Betfred British Masters.

Law’s charge of seven birdies in eight holes on the opening day meant the Aberdonian had a stroke lead after 18 holes but while nothing as startling occurred as the weather closed in on the slopey course near Newcastle, it was one sharp exclamation rather than rapidfire scoring that allowed him a 69 and to complete the first 36 holes of the European Tour’s coronavirus comeback event with just one bogey.

He now lies two behind Italy’s quickfire 23-year-old Renato Paratore – the fastest player in professional golf – but superbly placed to bid for his second tour title, to follow the Vic Open title he won in Australia in February of last year.

Law’s eagle at the long uphill 10th which lies alongside to the left the Northumberland resort’s main entrance avenue got him going after an initial run of nine pars to start his second round. An untidy bogey at the short 14th stalled him only briefly, corrected with a birdie at the long 17th, heading to the last two rounds with a nine-under total of 132.

“I’m happy with that,” he said afterwards. “I didn’t drive the ball particularly well, but the rough isn’t that thick round here and the greens are obviously soft, so you can get away with it.

“I hit a lot of greens on the front nine without hitting a lot of fairway. Back nine, I didn’t hit as many greens but over the next two days, the important thing is to have opportunities.”

Sitting alongside Law on the nine-under mark is Perthshire’s Calum Hill, who carded a brilliant 66.

Meanwhile, former courier Dale Whitnell fired an eagle and five birdies in a flawless 64 to finish 10 under.

The 31-year-old from Colchester played on the 2009 Walker Cup team alongside Tommy Fleetwood but struggled to establish himself in the professional ranks and was forced to take on a courier job for 10 months to make ends meet.

A victory on the Portugal Pro Golf Tour earned him five Challenge Tour invites in 2019 and he won the KPMG Trophy last September before claiming his European Tour card from the qualifying school.

The first prize of £187,000 and two-year European Tour exemption would be lifechanging but Whitnell said: “I try not to think about it.”

Tournament host and club member Lee Westwood was in danger of making an early exit after a double bogey on the first, but the 47-year-old fought back to shoot 71 and make the cut on the mark of one under.