The conclusion of round two saw some surprising names on the leaderboard. Harold Varner III of the United States and Adri Arnaus of Spain took the halfway lead, upstaging the elite players at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers. They recorded rounds of four-under-par 66s for a two-day 10-under score at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
Harold Varner III of the USA is joint leader of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
They lead by two from Australian Cameron Smith and American Matthew Wolff, who returned with scores of 66 and 67 respectively, in the season-opening event on the 2022-2023 Asian Tour schedule.
Tommy Fleetwood (-7), Bubba Watson (-6), Xander Schauffele (-5), Patrick Reed (-4) and Phil Mickelson (-4) are all lurking on the leaderboard and in touch ahead of tomorrow’s “moving day”. Overnight leader leader Matteo Manassero came in with a 73 and fell back to five under, defending champion Dustin Johnson from the United States shot 71 and is four-under while Korean star Joohyung Kim, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last month, returned a 73 and is two-under.
The 31-year-old Varner III is a newcomer to the Saudi International but is enjoying a course that offers plenty of birdies despite the windy conditions that are a signature of the King Abdullah Economic City layout.
“The course is unbelievable. It’s really good. It wasn’t blowing as hard this morning, so just trying to hang in there and just give myself a chance,” said Varner.
“I think you’ve got to drive it really well here. It’s forgiving off the tee, but when blowing, the lines get a little bit tighter, and you’ve just got to keep hitting good shots.”
Adri Arnaus of Spain…joint leader of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
Adri Arnaus, a Golf Saudi ambassador, is continuing a strong run of results in the Middle East this year with another high class showing. A rollercoaster front nine of five birdies and three bogeys was followed by a steady closing run of holes coming home that included driving the 17th green.
“I’ve been playing this course now for a few years and starting to get the hang of it, think everything is turning in the right direction, said the 27-year-old Spaniard. It’s been a bit of a short preseason for me because I had to make sure I didn’t come with my old injury this year, so I’m good with that.
Australian World No. 11 Cameron Smith was another to adapt to the windy conditions – drawing on his experiences Down Under to put himself firmly in the hunt heading into the weekend.
“I like it windy. I grew up in the wind. Being from Australia, it’s something you kind of have to get used to pretty quick. Around here you just need to hit it good off the tee. There’s plenty of opportunities, plenty of wedges, and just be real patient with it.”
Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita was the leading Asian Tour player on Friday and followed his opening round 64 with a composed round of 70 to remain four shots back and in the mix.
“Conditions were very difficult, but I am pleased to have played in the morning as it will be difficult later. I played steady and I’m in a good position. I had chances for birdie on the front nine but in these conditions nine pars is ok.”
14-year-old Thai sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat made the cut for the weekend following his opening day 66 with a round of 75 to leave him on 1 over par.
Malaysia’s sole representative Gavin Green posted a two-over 72 for a two-day 2-over 142, just managing to make the 144 cut. He is placed at tied 53rd with six other players including Paul Casey and Jhonattan Vegas.
At the start of the day American Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the event with a left hand and left hip injury.
International TV times for the tournament can be found here.
Scores after round 2 of the Saudi International being played at the par 70, 7048 Yards Royal Green GCC course (am – denotes amateur):
130 – Harold Varner III (USA) 64-66, Adri Arnaus (ESP) 64-66.
132 – Cameron Smith (AUS) 66-66, Matthew Wolff (USA) 65-67.
133 – Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 66-67.
134 – J.C. Ritchie (RSA) 68-66, Bubba Watson (USA) 64-70, Ryosuke Kinoshita (JPN) 64-70.
135 – Steve Lewton (ENG) 68-67, Wade Ormsby (AUS) 68-67, Xander Schauffele (USA) 67-68, Patrick Reed (USA) 66-69, Matteo Manassero (ITA) 62-73.
136 – Phil Mickelson (USA) 67-69, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 67-69, Dustin Johnson (USA) 65-71, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 68-68.
137 – Shiv Kapur (IND) 65-72, Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 65-72, Takumi Kanaya (JPN) 67-70.
138 – Jovan Rebula (RSA) 68-70, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 68-70, Paul Peterson (USA) 70-68, Sam Horsfield (ENG) 64-74, Kevin Na (USA) 70-68, Bio Kim (KOR) 66-72, Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 67-71, Joohyung Kim (KOR) 65-73, Shane Lowry (IRL) 68-70, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 66-72.
139 – Brad Kennedy (AUS) 67-72, Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) 70-69, Jason Kokrak (USA) 66-73, Lucas Herbert (AUS) 66-73.
140 – Andrew Dodt (AUS) 69-71, Berry Henson (USA) 67-73, Jaco Ahlers (RSA) 70-70, Ratchanon Chantananuwat (am, THA) 69-71, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-69, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 70-70, Thomas Pieters (BEL) 73-67, Ian Poulter (ENG) 68-72, Laurie Canter (ENG) 68-72, Tony Finau (USA) 68-72.
141 – Rikuya Hoshino (JPN) 70-71, Louis Dobbelaar (AUS) 69-72, Rashid Khan (IND) 66-75, Richard T. Lee (CAN) 66-75, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 69-72, Rattanon Wannasrichan (THA) 66-75, Todd Baek (USA) 67-74, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 65-76.
142 – Bjorn Hellgren (SWE) 68-74, Poom Saksansin (THA) 69-73, Paul Casey (ENG) 68-74, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 71-71, Gavin Green (MAS) 70-72, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 68-74, Eduard Rousaud (ESP) 69-73.
143 – Sebastian Crampton (USA) 73-70, Marc Leishman (AUS) 74-69, Daniel Hillier (NZL) 71-72, Viraj Madappa (IND) 71-72, Hongtaek Kim (KOR) 70-73, Jarin Todd (USA) 67-76.
144 – Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 73-71, Miguel Carballo (ARG) 73-71, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 68-76, Ryo Hisatsune (JPN) 68-76, Sihwan Kim (USA) 71-73, Justin Harding (RSA) 71-73, Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA) 68-76, Yoseop Seo (KOR) 71-73, Victor Perez (FRA) 73-71, Yikeun Chang (KOR) 71-73.
145 – Taichi Kho (am, HKG) 72-73, Trevor Simsby (USA) 71-74, S. Chikkarangappa (IND) 72-73, Wu Ashun (CHN) 74-71, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 72-73, Veer Ahlawat (IND) 71-74, Koh Deng Shan (SIN) 72-73, Natipong Srithong (THA) 70-75, Doyeob Mun (KOR) 68-77.
146 – Scott Hend (AUS) 70-76, James Hart Du Preez (RSA) 74-72, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 73-73, Ryan Ruffels (AUS) 75-71, Mathiam Keyser (RSA) 69-77.
147 – Oliver Fisher (ENG) 74-73, Prom Meesawat (THA) 73-74, Neil Schietekat (RSA) 73-74, Kosuke Hamamoto (THA) 74-73, Scott Vincent (ZIM) 71-76, Jediah Morgan (AUS) 74-73, Travis Smyth (AUS) 70-77.
148 – Jbe Kruger (RSA) 73-75, Hiroshi Iwata (JPN) 74-74, Jack Harrison (ENG) 71-77.
149 – Danny Masrin (INA) 73-76, Rory Hie (INA) 75-74, Angelo Que (PHI) 71-78, Naoki Sekito (JPN) 73-76, Zach Bauchou (USA) 74-75, Cormac Sharvin (NIR) 74-75, Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 74-75, Josh Hill (am, ENG) 75-74, Othman Almulla (KSA) 73-76.
150 – Ben Eccles (AUS) 73-77, Faisal Salhab (am, KSA) 75-75, Jason Dufner (USA) 72-78, Khalin Joshi (IND) 74-76, Saleh Ali Al Kaabi (am, QAT) 74-76.
151 – Shergo Al Kurdi (JOR) 75-76.
152 – Chan Shih-chang (TPE) 73-79, Dean Naime (am, EGY) 75-77, Saud Sharif (am, KSA) 75-77.
END.
+4 (144) was the final cut, 75 players made the cut
