WATCH South Africa's Justin Harding Takes Lead at Dubai Desert Classic with Spectacular Eagle
WATCH South Africa's Justin Harding Takes Lead at Dubai Desert Classic with Spectacular Eagle. Photo: Video screenshot

Home » WATCH SA’s Justin Harding Takes Lead in Dubai with Spectacular Eagle

WATCH SA’s Justin Harding Takes Lead in Dubai with Spectacular Eagle

(Reuters) – South African golfer Justin Harding took a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday, after carding a four-under-par 68. Harding had to return to complete his opening round on day two after play was stopped on Thursday due to the fading light at the Emirates Golf Club. […]

WATCH South Africa's Justin Harding Takes Lead at Dubai Desert Classic with Spectacular Eagle
WATCH South Africa's Justin Harding Takes Lead at Dubai Desert Classic with Spectacular Eagle. Photo: Video screenshot

(Reuters) – South African golfer Justin Harding took a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday, after carding a four-under-par 68.

Harding had to return to complete his opening round on day two after play was stopped on Thursday due to the fading light at the Emirates Golf Club.

The 35-year-old – who lives between Somerset West in South Africa and London – made a spectacular eagle on the sixth hole and hit four birdies to finish the second round at 11-under for the tournament, two shots clear of England’s Tyrrell Hatton.

“I rolled the ball pretty good and for the most part, kept bogeys off the card,” said Harding, who has won two titles on the European Tour.

“Hit the fairway on the longer, tougher par-fours. Ultimately just grinding. It was a grind of a day today, to be fair, just a bonus there on six.”

Golf - The 149th Open Championship - Royal St George's, Sandwich, Britain - July 17, 2021 South Africa's Justin Harding in action during the third round REUTERS/Paul Childs
FILE PHOTO: Golf – The 149th Open Championship – Royal St George’s, Sandwich, Britain – July 17, 2021 South Africa’s Justin Harding in action during the third round REUTERS/Paul Childs

South African Erik van Rooyen and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti were at eight-under, one ahead of a group of five players which included four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and overnight leader Joachim Hansen.