Fourth last Thursday with a nice 67 (-5) at the end of the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, both the first tournament of the season on the European Tour and the first Rolex Series (8 million dollars in prize money) , Romain Langasque is still at the forefront after eighteen holes played on the Maljis Course of the Emirates Golf Club, host of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Perfectly launched early this morning in the Emirates (7.20 am local, 4.20 am in France) with two birdies on his first two holes (on the 10th and 11th), the Frenchman showed patience, waiting for the right opportunities to improve his score.
This is what happened on the return with two new birdies slammed on the par 5 of 3 and on the 5 (par 4).
A clear 68 (-4) puts the winner of the Wales Open 2020, his first success on the European Tour this summer, in ninth place.
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“It went well this morning,” he explains at the microphone of the European Tour.
My long game was solid, I had a lot of birdie possibilities… Unfortunately, I didn't get everything.
But overall I am very happy.
I noticed that the greens are a little worse this week than in previous years, they are very irregular.
It is therefore far from obvious to put in the putts.
I knew how to remain patient.
It's the same for everyone.
I think these greens will firm up in the next few days.
So it will be harder.
We will have to put ourselves in the right places and on the right side of the flags.
I had a very good week in Abu Dhabi, with a few bogeys on Saturday and Sunday.
I am both happy with this result but also a little disappointed because I know there was plenty of room to do better.
My game is very good.
I have made good preparation since the beginning of January.
It's cool to get in shape like that and develop your game on such courses.
It gives confidence but it also shows that you are capable of winning.
Good results, I had some in 2020. But now being in a position to have already won helps me a lot.
Afterwards, I am aware that the tournament that I won (in August in Wales) is not the one we are playing this week.
It was a small "size" tournament.
So I still have a long way to go and good goals before winning here.
In any case, I do everything for.
"
Dubai before and after pictures, @TopgolfDubaiedition # ODDCpic.twitter.com / zpALdUOKUs
- The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 26, 2021
Romain Langasque is four points behind South African leader Richard Sterne, 320th player in the world, impeccable with his 64 (-8) strong of nine birdies for a single conceded bogey.
The six-time European Tour winner (including four wins at home in South Africa) is one step ahead of American Kurt Kitayama, 65 today.
Another South Af ', Justin Harding, completes the podium at -6 (66) with the winner of the 2017 edition, the Spaniard Sergio Garcia, author of a first round without error.
Jacquelin, drafted at the last minute
Besides Langasque, other French people have started their Dubai week rather well, like Alexander Levy and Antoine Rozner, 20th at -2 (70).
Victor Dubuisson, Victor Perez, Julien Guerrier and Benjamin Hébert appear in the par total, in 55th position.
Matthieu Pavon is beyond 100th place (105th to +3), just ahead of Mike Lorenzo-Vera (127th to +6) and Raphaël Jacquelin (129th to +7).
The Lyonnais, still the first reserve at the first light of dawn, finally entered the field thanks to the last minute forfeit of the Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.
Finally, in the series "the weeks go by but are not alike", note the very sluggish departure of Tyrrell Hatton, victorious last Sunday of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Englishman, world No. 5, could not do better than a difficult 76 (+4) which sends him to 115th place, just behind the Australian Jason Scrivener, 2nd in Abu Dhabi, owner of a 75 (+3).
