Paul Waring seizes title with Yas Links course record, Rory McIlroy dislikes being inches from hole and Johannes Weir Johannes Veerman draws inspiration from Disney movies.
Here's everything you need to know about the second round of the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.
A record-setting storm is coming
Wallin's 61, a Yas Links record, was the lowest round of his DP World Tour career and set the tour record for the lowest score (19 under). The Briton is five strokes clear of leader Tommy Fleetwood, American Wellman and Danish pair Thorbjorn Olsen and Niklas Norgaard. Waring birdied eight of his first 17 holes and made an eagle on the sixth hole, but saved the day on the 18th hole. He got a free drop after a wayward tee shot was embedded, but still could only get his second shot back into the fairway. He hit a perfect fairway wood from 250 yards to 4 feet from the pin, leaving a routine birdie putt. “Honestly, it's the best shot I've ever hit in my life,” Waring said. “The tee shot on the 18th hole was a little special to me because I'd been playing so well all day, so even on the three-wood I also felt like I could hit a solid shot into the green and hook it a little bit, honestly, I just wanted to keep going and make birdies.”
Danes dare to dream
Norgaard's perfect 65 and Olesen's brilliant 67 not only tied them for second place, but also put the pair on track to move up the ladder in the Race to Dubai with Rolex. As things stand, both players are expected to finish in the top 10 and earn their 2025 PGA Tour cards. Olsen said: “I think these are the most important two weeks of the year. Great games. It's always great to play in the Middle East and both teams are very strong. So everyone wants to play in It’s exciting to get good results here.” Added: “My main goal these two weeks is to lock in the top ten and get that. I just want to come out here and play a decent round of golf. That's the challenge of golf – it's very important, but trying to make it It doesn’t matter, it’s really hard so take it one shot at a time and I’m doing great these two days.”
McIlroy unimpressed by grandiose approach
Rory McIlroy clearly didn't get what he wanted on the ninth hole, but the end result was stunning.
Li shot the iron
Min Woo Lee hit a three-iron 336 yards on the third fairway. Touching.
Wellman draws inspiration from 'Finding Nemo'
Wellman vowed to “keep swimming” after an impressive opening 63 before shooting a 5-under 67. He said: “It was really fun to play today. That's why we all play golf. Because you want to be in these situations, you want to feel the pressure, and it's good to be uncomfortable. There's also pressure at the same time. Big, but that's why you come here to play football and you try not to think too much about it. It's weird, like you're almost playing mind games with yourself. But yeah, I'm so excited for the weekend, I don't know, just keep swimming. Finding Nemo, Dory said 'keep swimming' so I thought 'keep swimming, keep swimming'.”
