Paul Waring Sets Course Record, Takes Five-Shot Lead in Abu Dhabi

Paul Waring, whose only European Tour victory was at the Nordea Masters in 2018, has taken the lead in the Abu Dhabi Championship. The second round leaderboard shows: -19 P Waring (Eng); -14 J Veerman (US), T Olesen (Den), N Noergaard (Den), T Fleetwood (Eng); U Coussaud (Fra); -12 L Canter (Eng), T Hatton (Eng), M Wallace (Eng). Selected others include: -11 R MacIntyre (Sco); -10 R McIlroy (NI); -9 R Mansell (Eng), E Ferguson (Sco), S Lowry (Ire), J Smith (Eng). English golfer Paul Waring, aged 39, achieved a course-record 11-under-par 61, securing a five-shot advantage following the Abu Dhabi Championship’s second round. On Friday, he posted his career-best round, accumulating nine birdies and one eagle to reach a total of 19 under par. Tommy Fleetwood, who had been the early leader and matched the course record on Thursday, completed his round with a 68. He is now tied at 14 under par with American Johannes Veerman, along with Danes Thorbjorn Olesen and Niklas Norgaard Moller. Waring concluded his round with a remarkable shot on the par-five 18th. After an errant drive, he recovered by hitting the ball 265 yards to land within three feet of the pin. Waring commented on the shot, stating, “That was the best shot I’ve ever hit in my life to be honest.” The English trio of Laurie Canter, Tyrrell Hatton, and Matt Wallace are currently seven shots behind Waring, all at 12 under par, alongside France’s Ugo Coussaud. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre stands at 11 under par after the initial two rounds. Rory McIlroy recorded a score of 67 for the second day in a row, placing him nine shots behind the leader following a triple bogey on the 17th hole. The four-time major champion, Rory McIlroy, is pursuing his sixth Race to Dubai title. He could secure the championship if he finishes within the top two positions at Yas Links, ahead of the European Tour’s season finale in Dubai the following week. McIlroy expressed his thoughts on the course, saying, “I need the golf course to toughen up a little bit to have a chance. There’s so many gettable holes out there.”