12 November 2021: Defending champion Antoine Rozner posted six birdies in the final eight holes of his second round to take a one shot lead at the halfway mark of the AVIV Dubai Championship on 15 under par. Shubhankar Sharma started the day at two-under and produced an even number of birdies and bogeys to remain rooted to his overnight score. The cut fell at 5-under dropping Shubhankar out of the money rounds. He made three birdies and just as many bogeys in his second round 72.
The Frenchman birdied the first and seventh holes on his front nine and picked up another on the 11th, but his round really gathered momentum with four consecutive birdies from the 13th before he closed out with an eighth of the day on the 18th for an eight under round of 64.
That followed his opening 65 and means the 28 year old is now 40 under par for his six rounds on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates after claiming his maiden European Tour title with a winning total of 25 under par last year.
“I think I was playing really well, even on the front nine – a few putts didn’t drop. I just kept putting myself in good positions hole after hole and a few putts dropped on the back nine which was great. It weas definitely one of my best ball-striking rounds out here between this year and last year,” said Rozner.
“My long game was perfect, I was striping it shot after shot, I missed one green on 17 and that was the only hole I put myself in trouble but I got away with it with a good par. I’m just very pleased, it’s not that easy. You still have to play well, hit good shots, make some putts. I’m not the only one who’s playing well so you’ve got to keep grinding for the next two days.
“Stay aggressive is the mindset, you have be aggressive over and over. I did that really well last year, obviously I can use that experience from last year and that’s helping me. Last year I was so aggressive over four rounds and I think it’s paying off this week so if I keep doing what I’m doing over the next two days, hopefully there will be a good result in there.”
Rozner holds a one stroke advantage over Italy’s Francesco Laporta, who also posted a bogey-free 64, and first round leader Joachim B. Hansen of Denmark, who signed for a round of 67.
Finland’s Kalle Samooja also produced an impressive scoring run, firing six consecutive birdies on his back nine of 29 in a round of 64 to sit in third position on 13 under par.
Ryder Cup player Tommy Fleetwood is a further shot back after back-to-back rounds of 66, with the Englishman staying patient after a slow start, which included a dropped shot on the second, to move up the leaderboard with seven birdies in his final 12 holes. He shares fifth position with fellow Englishman Paul Waring whose 67 featured eight birdies, one bogey and a double bogey on the 13th after losing his ball.
