Dubai: Stephen Gallacher knows he needs more of the same over the weekend if he is to win his third consecutive Omega Dubai Desert Classic after shooting 67 on Friday to go 11 under par for the tournament, three strokes off midway leader Rory McIlroy.
The 40-year-old Scot followed up a first round 66 with a five under par 67 on Friday. He carded two birdies on his front nine and two either side of a double bogey on 12 on his return, before finishing with a flourish of three straight birdies from the 15th onwards.
“I’m delighted with the way I’m playing,” said Gallacher, who was five under after 10 holes on Thursday before eagling the 13th and bogeying the 16th. “There are a few blips over the two rounds, but you are going to get that anyway.
“The scoring is really low and that just shows the standard of the field. I’m going to have to do more of the same to be up there on Sunday, but at least I know what I have to do.”
Despite the double bogey on 12 and missed chances for birdie on holes eight, nine and 12, Gallacher said he was happy with his second round. He also sounded confident about the prospect of equalling Ernie Els’ record three wins in Dubai and joining an elite list of just five players to have won the same European Tour event three times in a row.
“There wasn’t too many blips, I’m delighted with the amount of chances I’m giving myself and I thought I played really strongly today. This is just where you want to be going into the weekend two or three strokes back.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend, I’m enjoying it. I know it’s going to need a lowish score, I’m going to have to do more of the same or better, I just need to keep being aggressive but patient at the same time.
“If I keep giving myself the chances and get a bit hot with the putter on one of the days, we’ll see what happens.”
