Real Club de Campo cares little for names or reputations. The biggest stars of the Open de España hit a brick wall on a day when Javier Arana’s black bourse once again showed just how demanding it can be. Perhaps Tyrrell Hatton struggled the most, while Shane Lowry and Ludvig Åberg survived their putting woes and Patrick Reed produced some of Friday’s most spectacular golf. Justin Rose, Bubba Watson and Danny Willett, meanwhile, got some first-hand experience of the course’s demands and are heading home early.
Lowry is still Lowry. The Irishman hasn’t looked comfortable on the greens over the first two days, but three birdies on the back nine have kept his hopes very much alive heading into the weekend. If his putter warms up, he could still appear near the top of the leaderboard on moving day.
Åberg finds himself in a similar situation. The greens have also given the Swede plenty of reason to frown; from between ten and twenty feet, he’s had nine putts and holed only two. It’s a damning statistic that is reminiscent of Tommy Fleetwood’s debut at Real Club de Campo. The greens this week can be difficult to read for players who are yet to unlock their secrets. Both Lowry and Åberg still have room to force their way into the title race and be in with a chance on Sunday. They’ll start Saturday eight shots behind leader Grant Forrest, who had set the clubhouse lead at nine under by mid-morning.
Amid the struggling big-name players, Patrick Reed produced three extraordinary moments. The American, who possesses one of the finest touches on tour, once again showed that his technique can be matched by few players in world golf. His second shot into the 6th and his third-shot chip at the 7th, to a back pin, were two of the moments of the day. Both earned him a tap-in birdie. Yet the American still had another trick up his sleeve. From the rough to the right of the 14th, he struck a towering iron to conjure an eagle chance from nowhere, ultimately leaving himself a gimme birdie. However, needing to steal a further shot from the course at the 18th to make the cut, his putt missed by millimetres. It is a crying shame he will not be in the Spanish capital for the weekend, just catching a glimpse of Reed’s magic is worth the admission price on its own. The Race to Dubai leader may have said adios to Madrid, but he did so with his head held high and plenty of new fans.
The Open de España will lose several stars before the weekend, but two elite players are still threatening the leaderboard. Lowry and Åberg remain in contention, while Hatton can now be sure that reputation offers no protection against the Madrid course. Real Club de Campo has put the stars in their place, showing many of them the door while leaving it slightly ajar for others. Saturday will reveal whether Lowry and Åberg can turn their resilience into a genuine title bid.
