Topsy-turvy finish leaves Horsfield sitting pretty at the Celtic Classic
England’s Sam Horsfield is in pole position to claim his second European Tour title in the space of three weeks after a roller-coaster finish to day two of the Celtic Classic.
Horsfield, who won the Hero Open at Hanbury Manor a fortnight ago, holed a bunker shot for a birdie on the 16th, ran up a triple bogey on the 17th and eagled the last at Celtic Manor in a second round of 64.
At 11-under par, the 23-year-old holds a one-shot lead over Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, with Andrew Johnston, Callum Shinkwin and Thomas Detry another stroke adrift on nine-under.
Speaking about his five-wood approach to the 18th, Horsfield said: “It’s funny, we had the exact same number into 17 at Forest of Arden when I won, so I hit the exact same shot and made the putt for eagle. The 17th was not great, but I bounced back after that triple to get myself into a good position.”
Meanwhile, the European Tour has announced that the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open will be played at Galgorm Castle Golf Club on Sept 24-27. It will be the first time the Co Antrim venue has hosted the tournament.
Tiger Woods will begin his quest for a record third Fedex Cup championship next week as the former world No1 yesterday committed to the play-offs opener at TPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts.
At the halfway stage of the Ladies Scottish Open, Spain’s Azahara Munoz and American major winner Stacy Lewis lead by one stroke, from America’s Jennifer Song and a chasing pack, at five-under-par.