English duo sit tied at 14-under after Rai’s spectacular 218-yard eagle on par-5 second hole highlights moving day at Yas Links
ABU DHABI – English golfer Aaron Rai produced one of the shots of the season, holing a 218-yard approach for a spectacular albatross that helped him catch compatriot Tommy Fleetwood at the top of the Abu Dhabi Championship leaderboard on Friday.
The remarkable second shot on the par-5 second hole at Yas Links Golf Club sparked Rai’s charge up the leaderboard, eventually posting an 8-under 64 to match Fleetwood’s 36-hole total of 14-under 130.
“Everything came together perfectly on that shot,” Rai explained. “The wind cooperated, the line was true, and seeing the ball disappear was an incredible surprise from where we were standing in the fairway.”
Fleetwood, chasing his third title in this event, maintained his strong form with a 6-under 66 that featured seven birdies against a single bogey. The veteran credited his fast start – three consecutive birdies – with maintaining his momentum from Thursday’s opening round.
“When you post a low number, everyone talks about how difficult it is to back it up,” Fleetwood said. “To begin with three straight birdies really set the tone and allowed me to play with confidence throughout the round.”
The English pair now holds a two-stroke advantage over nearest challengers Andy Sullivan, Nicolai Hojgaard and Richard Sterne, who sit at 12-under par.
World number two Rory McIlroy remains in contention at 8-under overall, though the Northern Irish star will need to make up significant ground over the weekend, currently sitting six shots off the pace in a tie for 20th position.
