Lowry bounces back to take halfway lead in Abu Dhabi

Dubai: Shane Lowry recovered from an early second-round wobble to retain the lead at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The Irishman, who equalled the course record with a 10-under-par 62 on Wednesday, bogeyed the second and third — holes he birdied during the first round — to drop back to eight-under.

However, the 31-year-old gathered himself to reel off four birdies and no more dropped shots to sign for a 70 and take a one-stroke lead into Day 3 on 12-under-par from South African duo Louis Oosthuizen and Richard Sterne.

“I’m pretty happy with that,” Lowry told Sky Sports after his round.

“I knew today was going to be a bit of a weird day after shooting such a good score yesterday.

“But for the start I really feel like I played pretty good today. I think I gave myself a lot of chances, I didn’t really hole that much. I didn’t birdie any of the par-fives.

“Some of the shots I hit early on were pretty horrendous so to battle back and hit some really nice shots out there, and hit some in close and make some birdies, I was happy with myself. Just look at the names that are behind me, it’s great.”

Oosthuizen, who won the British Open in 2010, mixed six birdies and two bogeys for a 68 to take him to 11-under for the tournament alongside Sterne, whose flawless 68 means he is yet to drop a shot in the tournament.

A rejuvenated Lee Westwood is a shot further back on 10-under in fourth place on his one, one ahead of fellow Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and English journeyman Tom Lewis.

World No. 2 Brooks Koepka is in a group tied in 13th place on seven-under after he carded a two-under 70, and fellow American and world No. 3 Dustin Justin is back in tied-45th on four-under.

Among those who missed the cut and are packing their bags to go home early are 2016 Open champion Henrik Stenson and Asian No. 1 Shubhankar Sharma.

Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood just made it into the weekend, finishing a shot above the cut line on three-under.

“My putting was pretty awful today,” Fleetwood said. “There were a couple of short ones missed, and then just holed nothing at any makeable range.

“You can’t stress the importance of making cuts in professional golf. That’s the game, it doesn’t matter what level you’re at.

“I’ve not thought about defending it (the title) at all this week.

“I’m really happy I’ve got two days on the golf course.”

Leaderboard

1 Shane Lowry (IRL) -12

2= Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) -11

2= Richard Sterne (RSA) -11

4 Lee Westwood (ENG) -10

5= Ian Poulter (ENG) -9

5= Scott Jamieson (SCO) -9

5= Tom Lewis (ENG) -9

5= Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) -9

9= Grant Forrest (SCO) -8

9= Gavin Green (MAS) -8

9= Lucas Herbert (AUS) -8

9= Dominic Foos (GER) -8