Molinari welcomes timely return to form in Abu Dhabi
FRANCESCO MOLINARI’S welcome resurgence gathered pace as the former Open champion claimed a share of the lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
A second consecutive 67 at Yas Links gave Molinari a halfway total of 10 under par, with his total matched by compatriot Guido Migliozzi, who birdied his final three holes to return a 69.
Molinari has not had a top- three finish in a strokeplay event since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational a month earlier. However, Molinari was unbeaten in captaining Continental Europe to victory in the Hero Cup win last week and recovered from dropping three shots in two holes to mark six birdies in an inward half of 30.
“I’m very pleased,” Molinari said. “Same score as Thursday but very different day. Many more ups and downs than yesterday. A couple of three- putts, a couple of mental errors but also lots of good stuff, a couple of long putts made.
“Obviously a very good back nine, which is nice. I think where I’m at at the moment, when you go through a tough patch, it’s nice to see that I can pick it up again.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself. It’s a couple of good rounds but I know, I’m aware of where I’m coming from. The game feels different. I think it looks different, too. But yeah, it’s just two rounds, so a long way to go.”
Australia’s Jason Scrivener lies a shot off the lead following a second round of 70, with former Open champion Shane Lowry among the group two strokes further back after also returning a 70.
Overnight leader and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald fell five shots off the pace after adding a 75 to his opening 64.