Sharma hangs by slender thread at Saudi International

Ryan Fox… leads in fading light. Pic: Getty Images/ ET

KAEC, Jeddah, Feb 6: Shubhankar Sharma was hanging by a slender thread as he was 2-over 12 holes when fading light ended play in the second round of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. His first round was one-under 69.

He had bogeys on second and fourth which were 11th and 13th holes on the course. He picked a birdie on 15th but gave it back on second and after another hole poor light stopped play. Sharma at thar stage was 2-over for the day 1-over for the tournament as the cut looked likely at even.

Ryan Fox posted his second consecutive round of 65 after just beating the fading light to lead the weather-affected second round of the Saudi International.

The New Zealander was among the afternoon starters whose rounds suffered a two hour delay due to a rare bout of rain and lightning at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, but he carded six birdies when play eventually got back underway. He dropped his only shot of the day on the last hole, but made it safely back into the impressive clubhouse on ten under par just before darkness fell.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher will resume his second round also on that mark, with the Ryder Cup player facing six more holes to play on Saturday. He posted three birdies and one bogey on his front nine and three straight pars after the turn.

England’s Andy Sullivan (66) and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger (68) are two shots back on eight under par along with Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult and World Number One Dustin Johnson who have two and four holes remaining respectively. Johnson carded back-to-back birdies just before the suspension to keep on course to extend his impressive record in the event, having won the inaugural edition in 2019 and finished runner up 12 months ago.

Ryder Cup player Tommy Fleetwood (65) and Scotland Callum Hill (68) are in the clubhouse on seven under par, with former World Number One Justin Rose, overnight leader David Horsey and France’s Victor Perez all set to resume their rounds on Saturday also three shots off the pace.

MeanwhileNorway’s Viktor Hovland once again underlined his Ryder Cup credentials in the presence of one of Europe’s legendary players, Ian Poulter, carding a four under par 66  to move to six under.

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Sharma ready to tee off at Saudi International

Sharma ready to tee off at Saudi International

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