Pablo Larrazabal says it’s a ‘great feeling’ to shoot a level par round of 71 and takes a two-shot lead into the weekend over Andrew Johnston.
The Spaniard, who didn’t play at Augusta last week, was one of four players that managed to shot a level par 71 in very testing conditions in Valderrama.
The 32-year-old started the day with a birdie three but got back to level par for the day after bogeying the next. Things went from bad to worse on the par three third hole as he could only make a triple-bogey which shows how tough the conditions were.
Larrazabel carded six consecutive bogeys to finish the front nine on three-over par. It was more of a consistent back nine as the world number 105 birdied the 11th, 12th, and 17th to get back to level for the day, two shots ahead of Andrew Johnston.
Larrazabal told Sky Sports: “To shoot level in these conditions is a great feeling and to have a chance on the last to go into the red figures is something really special.
“I said to my playing partners that I only missed one shot today really bad, and I made triple-bogey. I made so many great saves – like the 17th, the putt I made from the back of there was great.
“I didn’t play my best golf, but on another golf course I would have gone six, seven under par because of the way I fought, so I’m very pleased.
“If the wind blows like this a level par or more total will win this. If I shoot level par over the weekend I will be in the fight”
