Saturday 22 November 2014 08:42, UK
Henrik Stenson admitted he is digging deep into his energy reserves after claiming the halfway lead at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The defending champion defied the effects of fatigue over the final third of his round as he added a six-under 66 to his opening 68 to hit the front on 10 under par.
Stenson, who captured last season’s Race to Dubai crown with victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates 12 months ago, felt he was “running out of steam” with six holes of his second round remaining.
But the powerful Swede still managed to find three more birdies in an inward 32 which lifted him into a two-shot lead over world No 1 Rory McIlroy, Danny Willett and Richie Ramsay.
"There's still a lot of golf to play and I'm really happy with how I closed this round," said Stenson, who became the first man to win the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup in the same year in 2013.
"Around the 12th hole I felt like I was running out of steam. It was difficult mentally from there on. I had to really focus hard and drag myself over the finish line.
"It's hot and sticky and even though I'm drinking well and getting plenty of energy, I just felt like I hit the wall on 12. If it's one or two holes left, you normally feel like, 'okay, I can hang on'.
“But it was a bit of an uphill (struggle) from there. I managed to finish in good style anyway so I'm pleased with that."
McIlroy had shared the overnight lead with Shane Lowry after a faultless opening 66 but his all-round game was slightly askew on day two as he scrapped his way to a two-under 70.
But Justin Rose made huge strides up the leaderboard as he continued an impressive comeback from his torrid start to the tournament on Thursday.
The former US Open champion dropped four shots in his first six holes and remained four over after 10 before hitting back with five birdies down the stretch which salvaged a 71.
Rose continued his recovery early on the second day, rolling in three birdie putts in the first seven holes and adding four more after the turn to claim the outright lead on eight under.The 34-year-old closed with a disappointing bogey-six after his drive at the last found the creek which runs through the middle of the fairway, but he remains confident of emulating his maiden major victory at Merion last year.
"I won the US Open from four over after 11 holes as well," said Rose. who was also four over after four holes at the BMW Masters earlier this month before rallying to finish the tournament just a shot off the lead.
"My caddie and I were joking about putting an extra club in my bag for the first two holes [earning a four-shot penalty] just to get it over with, but I don't like giving everyone such a big head-start."
Around the 12th hole I felt like I was running out of steam. I had to really focus hard and drag myself over the finish line
"I played really well and it was just a matter of course-management on the 18th. The tee was up 90 yards which threw me a little bit.
"I did not know where the carry was and thought my drive was perfect and didn't realise it was in the hazard until I got up to my ball."
Rose heads into the weekend three shots off the lead along with Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who flirted with thoughts of a 59 after he birdied the first five holes and picked up further shots at right and 10 before his momentum halted with back-to-back bogeys.
"It's always nice to start with five birdies and it gave me a really good feeling on the greens," said Cabrera-Bello, who eagled 14 and birdied the 17th to return an eight-under 64 - the low round of the second day.
"It's also a really dangerous thing because you then put a little pressure on yourself but I managed to handle that well today and I am really pleased with my round."
See how the third round unfolds when the action resumes on Saturday morning. Live coverage begins at 8am on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
