Big Swede Peter Hanson just missed an 8' birdie putt on 18, which would have set a new course record of -9 63. He has had to settle for -8 64 and a one shot lead over Scotland's Paul Lawrie -7 65.
Watching this on TV, started at 3am, you would never know they were in the desert of Dubai, it is so lush and green. Greg Norman designed this Earth course and in almost perfect weather it is still playing very long.
Fascinating to watch Rory and Luke paired together, Rory is bombs away with a double, a bogey and 6 birdies for his -3 now at 15, and Luke, shorter but so precise, balanced and effortless, out in 33 despite a bogey at the first (rusty?), displaying that delightful short game that is the great equalizer.
Now I have jinxed him as he drove into an unplayable at the par 5 14th, and just missed a par saver to drop to -2, and is unplayable again on 15 !!
Sergio is -5 on the back 9, at -6 playing 17. Just hit into the water, par 3, looking at a 5.
Makes his 5, then a birdie at 18 to finish -5 67.
update.. 715am
Luke Donald has made 3 bogey's in a row 14,15,16 and a par at 17 to stand T26 at E, while his partner Rory McIlroy has birdied 4 of the last 5 to stand T3 at -5 playing the par 5 18th.
Luke Donald has never missed a regular season cut on the European Tour ! Another astonishing stat for this quiet world #1.
Both have driven into the rough, Luke lays up, so does Rory, Luke's approach to 30', Rory's wedge settles 25 feet above the hole and he makes it !! for a back 9 of 30, -6 66, and alone in 3rd while Luke 2 putts for par 72, E T26.
for tee times click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/teetimes/index.html
for leaderboard click here http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2011/tournamentid=2011091/leaderboard/index.html
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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