Travel of pick and shovel, diligent, laborious, which happens in fits and starts because it is difficult for him to find the rhythm and the good sensations will come for Jon Rahmlet’s remember, tournament champion in 2018 and 2019, in second day of Spain’s Acciona Open in Madrid Country Club. 68 hits, and 132 total (-10), on two of the co-leaders Paul Waringwho played the morning shift, and Stephen Gallacherin the afternoon, both with -12.
Barrika’s overalls had to be put on to correct a hesitant start to the lap with only his class and talent preventing him from going the other way. Rahm had several birdie opportunities in the first 9 holes and the first one to fall was a bogey-5 after seeing how on holes 3 and 4 he didn’t get good birdie opportunities.
Hole 5 was an unusual bogey for the Basque as he hit a ‘shank’ when the stick got stuck in the thick grass of the rough. And he was still lucky that the ball was still lying across the fairway and playable. From there he wanted to hit a very tight approach to the green and the ball landed in the bunker. Bogey at the end as the lesser evil.
On hole 6 another break to the right, face some friends, but again the ball remained in play along the path of the buggys. Par 4. On 7, the second par 5 of this first part of the course, he took the opportunity to beat the first shot on the course, putting himself back at -7 to five from the head, and this birdie followed of another house record at 8: strong drive in the middle of the fairway and long and wedge about 3 meters: bowl I love you.
At -8 on the scoreboard, problems arose again on 10, par 4, and 11, par 3, where Biscayan was unlucky with a ball bounce. Rahm then seemed to drift off course, but the genius within him resurfaced and everything changed from the 12th, stringing together three spectacular birdies that put him at -9 and comfortably in the top 10.
From there to the finish, drivers splitting the fairways, literally opening the ball, and another birdie, on the 16th hole after leaving the ball a foot from the flag. At 18, almost traceable, but a meter and a little more, the ball does not want to go in after touching the hole. Poor him and the public who saw him as his idol and great favorite for success, he completely regained the pulse of the Open.
Rahm could this Sunday become the fourth European player in history to win the Open in his country at least three times after Bernhard Langer (5), Nick Faldo (4) and Seve Ballesteros (3). Good challenge.
“There were eleven bad holes, where I felt very uncomfortable and seven holes that were better. It was a bit disappointing at the beginning, I had to go back, the course was not easy. The way I started the day, being two out outside the lead is very good, shame about the 18th putt,” Rahm summed up in the mixed zone.
It’s a beautiful day too Sebas Gª Rodriguez (64 shots for 143, -8 and top 15), with five birdies and an eagle, Alfredo Garcia Heredia and the beginner louis masaveauand great performance of an equal fighter Pablo Larrazabal (67 to -7).
Englishman Paul Waring (-12) was leading, begging, by midday, carding a 63 stroke on this second day to lead the tournament, then equaled by Gallacher (65), both with an advantage in stroke about the British also David Drysdale (-11), fighting not to lose the circuit card, the South African Hennie Duplessis and two about, besides Rahm, the Thai Kiradech Aphibarn Rat (-10) and the Dutch Darius Van Driel (-10). Pavon and Lee followed.
Returning to the Spaniards, a good day for Sebas García Rodríguez, with a good finish in this Open will ensure the exemption from the DP World Tour for 2023, excellent Pablo Larrazábal and also highlight Santi Tarrio (-5)with a card of 67 strokes, his seventh consecutive event, Alvaro Quiros (-5), Alejandro Canizares (-5)both have a torque turn, and Angel Hidalgo (-5). The four occupy a good position for the weekend. They are far from the head, but in all their options are full Saturday and Sunday.
The other side of the coin is the elimination of the title defender Rafael Cabrera (69 to 143, +1) while the foreign crack, Tommy Fleetwood with him at 139 (-3), in the top 40.
The cut was set at 140 (-2) and 12 Spaniards passed.
Classification (2nd round, par 71):
130 Warings (GBR)
Gallacher (GBR)
131 Drysdale (GBR)
De Plessis (SAF)
132 Rahm (Sp/5th)
Aphibarnrat (Tha)
Van Driel (PB)
Lee (aus)
Pavón (Fra)
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
