Abu Dhabi: Runner-up of the 2007 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship Peter Hanson aims to go one better this year after firing a week's best score of 64 in round three yesterday, in what he's dubbed ‘moving day'.
The Swede who ended a stroke off Paul Casey five years ago is currently nine under par 207 (74, 69, 64) having made a dramatic comeback rising from tied for 72 on day one and tied for 32 on day two.
Hanson's bogeyless eight under round with four birdies split on either nine fires him back into contention after the 34-year-old initially looked bound for a missed cut starting with four bogeys on the first six holes of his first round.
In a great day for the fast-rising Scandinavian's Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who bogeyed on the 11th hole but shot 65 with four birdies in a row to lift his score to seven under par 209 (73-71-65). He'd risen from tied for 55 on day one to tied for 40 on day two. The veteran had six birdies on the front nine and a further two on the back nine — four of the front birdies were in a row.
Hanson said: "I got off to a really bad start the first day. I had a nightmare four over par after six holes. I was trying to get back but when you're four over after six, you just think you're trying to make the cut and get yourself back into the tournament.
"I managed to do that on Friday and had a steady three under and then today, Saturday, it's called moving day, so we thought we'd give it a move and see what happens. It was great. It was one of those days — eight birdies, no bogeys — where you have the best job in the world.
"I finished second once here behind Casey and it would be so nice to be up there tomorrow coming into the back nine again."
