Resurgent Quiros leads in Italy
Alvaro Quiros is halfway there to what would be a very important victory after a second-round 64 at the Rocco Forte Open on Friday.
The Spaniard was once ranked as high as 21st in the world, but made a series of unsuccessful swing changes that saw him plummet outside the top 700 and lose his European Tour card.
All that would change if he were to win at Verdura this week, and he gave himself a superb chance of doing just that after following up an opening 63 with a 64 on Friday.
That took him to the top of the pile heading into the weekend on 15 under par, two shots clear of his nearest challengers, Michael Hoey and Sebastian Soderberg.
The second-placed duo held the lead overnight and stayed solid with a pair of 68s, though that was not enough to hold off a rampant Quiros.
The Spaniard has taken his game back to the fundamentals that made him a six-time European Tour winner, and it appears to be working.
He took a while to get going on Friday, but after eight straight pars he once again caught fire, eagling the ninth and birdying the 12th before going on a run of four straight birdies from the 15th – all from putts of 12 feet or more.
"It's a very nice situation," he said. "It's a long time ago since I had the option. My game today was a little bit worse than yesterday but my putting on the back nine was unbelievable so I'm very happy with it.
"Sometimes I've been very greedy, trying to force myself into a better score when the game wasn't good and today I have to be proud of myself. Eight consecutive pars was the typical situation for me to blow my mind because I'm not shooting low. Today was a big step mentally speaking, trying to be patient.
"I'm not going to fix my situation in one day or one tournament so hopefully I can keep working, still adding good rounds and hopefully at the end of the year come back to the Tour."
Also in the running are Zander Lombard and David Horsey, who trail Hoey and Soderberg by a shot, while Jose-Filipe Lima joins Raphael Jacquelin and Mark Foster on 11 under.
Latest
-
Equipment
Miura targets wider market with hollow-bodied IC-602 irons
Miura are out to build on their existing market with new clubs that cast a slightly wider net in terms of player quality.
-
Videos
WATCH: Young woman steps up confidently to drive – and loses club behind her
Golf’s influencer girls can make it look easy.
-
Equipment
Pros give their verdict on Callaway Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X balls
Callaway staffers have now had a good period of time to get used to their new ball offerings, the Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X.
-
Videos
WATCH: 7 times the pros horribly fluffed their shots like the rest of us
Just when you think you have it all figured out.
-
Equipment
Collin Morikawa switches his putter again – and marvels at ‘incredible’ results
Collin Morikawa isn’t a professional who changes clubs lightly but he also isn’t averse to moving with the times.
-
Videos
WATCH: Kid pulls off unbelievable flop shot over his dad’s head
The flop shot is all about getting up and down with precision and this kid has it all.
-
Equipment
The clubs that helped Peter Malnati end his title drought at the Valspar Championship
Titleist staffer Peter Malnati ended his long wait for another championship at Innisbrookâs Copperhead Course.
-
Videos
WATCH: Amateur golfer takes hacking to a new level – leaving crowd in fits of laughter
Hackers are going to hack.
-
Courses
Four of the best golf clubs to play in Singapore, a year-round golfing haven
Here we look at four golf clubs or resorts that sport at least two stunning courses.