Koepka Stumbles "Tied 35th, 7 Shots Behind"... Laporta Leads
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Day 2: 3 Over Par, Byeo and Fitzpatrick Tied for 2nd, Wang Jeonghun 'Cut Off'
Brooks Koepka is checking the direction of his ball after a trouble shot on the 13th hole during the second day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Abu Dhabi (UAE) = Getty Images / Multibits
View original image[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the slump of Brooks Koepka (USA), the world No. 1.
On the second day of the European Tour 'Rolex Series Round 1' Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (total prize money $7 million), held at Abu Dhabi Golf Club (par 72, 7,583 yards) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the early morning of the 18th (Korean time), Koepka fell with a 3-over par and dropped to a tie for 35th place (3-under par 141). Francesco Laporta (Italy) leads with 10-under par 134, while Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (England) are chasing in a tie for 2nd place, one stroke behind at 9-under par 135.
Koepka started tied for 3rd place, two strokes behind the leader, recording four birdies, three bogeys, and two double bogeys. He gained momentum with consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2 but stumbled with a bogey on hole 3 and a double bogey on hole 5 (both par 4s). He made a birdie on hole 7 (par 3) but lost it with a bogey on hole 8. After a birdie on hole 10 (par 5), he suffered a critical double bogey on hole 11 (par 4). His tee shot faltered again on the final hole, 18 (par 5), resulting in a bogey. He is seven strokes behind the leader, making his pursuit of the championship challenging.
Hot Picks Today
"Only Two Per Person" Garbage Bag Crisis Was Just Yesterday... Japan Also Faces Shortage Anxiety
- "Samsung Electronics Employee with 100 Million Won Salary Receiving 600 Million Won Bonus... Estimated Tax Revealed"
- Lived as Family for Over 30 Years... Daughter-in-Law Cast Aside After Husband's Death
- 'Will Demand Finally Decline Due to High Prices?'... "I'll Just Enjoy Nearby Trips" as Japan and China See a Surge
- "Wore It Once, Then This? White Spots All Over 4.15 Million Won Prada Jacket... 'Full Refund Ordered'"
Laporta dominated the leaderboard with a flawless performance, collecting nine birdies. He has yet to win on the European Tour. Sergio Garcia (Spain) is tied for 4th place at 8-under par 136, while Patrick Cantlay (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), and Lee Westwood (England) are tied for 7th place at 7-under par 137. Defending champion Shane Lowry (Ireland) is tied for 74th place at even par 144, and Wang Jeong-hoon (25, CSE) missed the cut, tied for 105th place at 3-over par 147.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
