Rafa Cabrera Bello’s Daily Diary: A long day, but my game took a different course

As expected it was a very long day on Friday near Rome in the €3 million DS Automobiles Italian Open at Marco Simone GC, on the DP World Tour.

I finished my five holes of my first round very early this morning with an ugly birdie on hole 15, followed by a trio of birdies on hole 16, 17 and 18 for a four under par 71.

Then a quick turn around and off for the second round.

I kept the momentum of the first 18 holes with two birdies in my first three holes to be six under for the tournament and among the on-course leaders.

I bogeyed holes 8 and 9 to be out in a level par 36. Then in my fourth nine in two days after a birdie-par start on holes 1 and two my round imploded.

I had a run of six consecutive bogeys from hole three. I went: bogey — bogey — bogey — bogey — bogey and a final bogey on hole eight.

I cannot remember the last time I did this? It suddenly dawned on me as I stood on the ninth tee that I was in danger of missing the cut.

I composed myself to finish my second round with a birdie on the 587-yard par five ninth hole ending by holing a 10-foot 4-inch putt and hand in a scorecard of four over par 75.

I will, hopefully, have made the 36-hole cut with a couple of shots to spare and I will take a lot of confidence into the third round.

As I post this Diary article I am lying in tied 43rd with the current leader Matt Fitzpatrick home in the clubhouse on eight under par.

There are still quite a few players still completing their second rounds, including Rory McIlroy, with 42 players under par and the cut likely to be around one over par.

Another big weekend ahead for as all.

One congratulations to be highlighted today is the performance of 2023 Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who has managed rounds of 69 and 68 to be in tied fourth.

With all the meetings and responsibilities captain Donald has this week, it is an achievement so far that should be applauded.

I will rest well and fingers crossed I play well on Saturday and I will report back on, hopefully, a more positive day three and round three.

A final comment, I have just seen the weather forecast for Saturday, winds gusting up to 25mph, especially for the tournament leaders, which could give a chance to make up ground for us early starters.

Speak to you all tomorrow!

— Rafa Cabrera Bello, 38-year-old, is a Dubai Golden Visa Awardee, based in Dubai who has won four times on the DP World Tour, including the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic. Rafa is a Global Ambassador of JA Resorts & Hotels.