Dubai: Andy Sullivan hit a second consecutive 66 on day two of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Friday to take a solo lead of the tournament and equal the event’s lowest 36 hole record at 12 under par.
Alvaro Quiros and Henrik Stenson are the only other two golfers to have reached 132 by the end of the second day’s play at this year-ending event. They did so in 2011 and 2013 respectively, and on both of those occasions they went on to win the tournament.
Sullivan, 29, of England, hit two birdies on his outward nine and four on his return to continue his rise after having shared a four-way tie for first after round one of the tournament with Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Marcus Fraser on Thursday. He is now a stroke clear of Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and two strokes clear of America’s Patrick Reed.
“It’s absolutely awesome to be leading after halfway in such a massive event, it’s incredible,” said Sullivan, who used to work in a supermarket stacking shelves before he turned professional four years ago. “I’m just happy to be doing it in front of my fans, and hope to keep them happy for the weekend,” he said of his legion of followers who are trailing him around the course in ‘Team Sulli’ shirts.
“They are probably a key part of me playing so well this week because they just keep me going,” he added of ‘Sulli’s Army’. “You feel like everyone’s behind you and you feel like you’re really using that as momentum. I felt a bit static from holes nine through to 11 but hit a massive one on 12 and the crowd went wild and you feel like you’re pushing on from there,” said Sullivan who went on to card three more birdies on his back nine.
“There’s a lot of good guys who are going to be chasing me over the weekend and I’m sure they are going to come at me, so for me, I’ve got to try and do what I did today, be patient and try and play my game and not worry about anyone else.”
Grillo, is a stroke back in solo second at 11 under par for the tournament having added 64, the best round of day two, to an opening 69. The Argentinian hit an unblemished card of three birdies going out and five birdies on the turn.
“I’m hitting the ball very nicely and I am very pleased with the way I played and hopefully I can keep it going for the next few days,” said Grillo. “It’s pretty much like a Major here. You’ve got the best players in the world and you’ve got to play really well to keep it up.”
Elsewhere, Reed is two strokes back in solo third at nine under par after following up an opening 70 with a 65 on day two. Three birdies and bogey on the front nine preceded six birdies and another bogey on the back.
“I felt like I didn’t really do anything well yesterday [Thursday],” said Reed. “But I put the switch on today [Friday], hit the ball a lot more solid, and had a couple kick-ins for birdies, which always helps. All I have to do now is focus on playing some good golf. There are 36 holes left, so I still have to go out and play good golf.”