Scottish golfer fires career-best 61 to open up big Bahrain lead

The 31-year-old, who missed the cut in last week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, mixed eight birdies with three bogeys in an opening 67 at Royal Golf Club before producing a birdie blitz in one of the early groups on Friday.

“Yeah, today was really good,” admitted Hill as he reflected on making gains at the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth to be out in 31 before picking up further shots at the tenth, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th in an inward half of 30.

“I started off really well and then I had a few bonus putts from really long range on the last couple of holes as I kept making birdies.”

‘It’s my best round in tournament golf’

The two-time DP World Tour winner rolled in a 35-footer for a 2 at the 16th before converting another birdie putt from 31 feet at the next hole then knocking in a five-footer at the last.

“Yeah, very high,” replied the Crook of Devon-based player to being asked where he rated his eye-catching effort. “It’s obviously my best round in tournament golf. I haven’t kept track of what I’ve shot in practice but that’s up there with one of the best rounds I’ve played.”

Hill’s scintillating score equalled the course record, which had been set by Englishman Brandon Robinson Thompson in last year’s event.

“I knew the course record was 11 under, so I had to hole my last shot (to beat it) and it looked very good in the air. I thought it had a chance but just long,” he said, smiling. “But it was nice to finish off with a birdie as well, so, yeah, very happy.”

Hill, who landed his breakthrough win in the Cazoo Classic in 2021 before adding the Joburg Open last season, holds a commanding cushion over German Freddy Scott, who followed an opening 65 with a 67.

Frenchman Ugo Coussaud sits three shots further back in third spot, with a group on eight under including Sergio Garcia, who also came home in 30. Patrick Reed, last week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic winner, trails Hill by ten shots.

“The forecast looked like it was going to be windy this morning, but we did okay,” admitted the halfway leader. “It was maybe 10mph for most of it and it’s just started to pick up now a little bit.

“We had it quite windy yesterday, so it felt much easier than yesterday as a whole and then it is nice having the last few holes downwind. Yeah, it played in our favour today and I took advantage of it.”

‘Yesterday felt equally good’

Hill, who has Edinburgh man Stuart Davidson on his bag, would hand himself a huge boost in his bid to be playing on the PGA Tour next season if he can go on and land a victory on Sunday.

“Yesterday felt equally good but I just made a few little errors and today I had a few bonus putts go in and took out what I did wrong yesterday,” he replied to being asked what his mindset will be heading into the weekend.

“So as long as I can keep learning from what I’ve done and keep applying it, hopefully I’ve still got some good rounds left in me.”

Adding to a productive couple of days for the Caledonian contingent, Grant Forrest also sits in the top 15 on seven under, one ahead of Daniel Young, though the six other Scots to start out are facing an early exit when the second round is completed on Saturday morning.