A spectacular albatross helped Holland’s Joost Luiten claim a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Volvo Golf Champions in Durban yesterday.
Luiten holed his 248yd second shot to the 560yd 10th, his four-iron approach pitching just short of the green and running 20yd up the green and into the hole.
The 28-year-old, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, eventually carded a second-round of 67 to finish on seven-under-par 137, a total then matched by England’s Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Louis Oosthuizen.
“It’s my first albatross,” said Luiten, who is just outside the automatic Ryder Cup qualifying places after winning the KLM Open in his home country last year. “I hit a good drive down the middle of the fairway, hit a four iron and, basically, went straight at it.
“It pitched exactly where I wanted, just front of the green and released up the slope and straight at the pin and went in. It was a good feeling.
“The funny thing is yesterday it felt terrible but I was making some good swings today, so that gives you some trust hopefully for the coming days.”
Former Open champion Oosthuizen carded four birdies and one bogey in his 69, with France’s Victor Dubuisson a shot off the lead on six under following a more erratic 69 which featured an eagle, five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Italy’s Matteo Manassero, the youngest winner of the BMW PGA championship last May, is another stroke back after a 67, with overnight leader Raphael Jacquelin and Darren Clarke on four under.
Press and Journal columnist Stephen Gallacher had a day to forget. Starting the day one over par the Scot eagled the par 5 third hole to raise hope he could move up the leaderboard but he faltered with a bogey followed by an 8 at the par 5 eighth.
He reduced the damage with a birdie at the 13th but finished with another bogey on his card at the 16th to finish on 74, three over for the tournament.