David Law flying high in Ras Al Khaimah after making three eagles in two days

David Law carded two eagles, adding to the one he finished with in the opening round, to be flying high at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage in the Ras al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital.

The 30-year-old Aberdonian added a 64 to his opening 66 at Al Hamra Golf Club to move to 14-under-par, leading by two shots from Dane Nicolai Højgaard, with Spaniard Adrian Otaegui a further two strokes back in third.

Helped by a seven-birdie salvo that included back-to-back gains to finish, Bob MacIntyre is also sitting in the top 10 heading into the final two rounds, but Law is the man to catch after underlying a growing confidence about his overall game.

Starting on the back nine at the venue where he secured his DP World Tour card in 2018, he’d already picked up a birdie at the 13th before chipping in from nearly 30 yards for an eagle-3 at the next hole.

David Law and his caddie Max Bill find something funny during the second round of the Ras al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital at Al Hamra Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Birdies at the 15th and 18th took him out in 31 before the 2019 Vic Open winner then responded brilliantly to his only bogey of the day at the par-4 second, where he three-putted.

He birdied both the third, where a 17-footer dropped, and the fifth before making his second eagle of the day with another chip-in, this time from 17 yards, at the par-5 eighth.

“I played good,” said Law afterwards. “I chipped in twice for two eagles so that was picking up four shots straight away, which was great. Yesterday was tricky, today was a different golf course and, though I rode my luck a little, I was happy.”

It was his best score since opening with the same effort in the Qatar Masters in Doha just under a year ago. He’d started the 2022 campaign by making the cut in a Rolex Series double-header in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, though was disappointed with his finishes in those events.

David Law during the second round of the Ras al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital at Al Hamra Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

But, having worked hard with his coach, Alan McCloskey, and also having a good vibe about his partnership with new caddie Max Bill, the two-time Scottish Amateur champion has been feeling good about what lies ahead for him this season.

“It’s been a whole since the win,” he added. “I had a chance at St Andrews last year (in the Hero Open won by Grant Forrest) and I felt very comfortable again in that position. I feel like my golf has progressed nicely in the last three years and that’s the main aim.

“It’s about giving myself opportunities. It’s not about putting pressure on myself to go and win again. If I keep knocking on the door and giving myself chances, I’ll hopefully win one of them.”

Højgaard, who joined his twin brother, Rasmus, as winner on the circuit last season, is a big danger in this particular attempt, having made a menacing move with a 65, two shots more than Otaegui after he set a new course record.

Bob MacIntyre on his way to a second-round 67 at Al Hamra Golf Clubin the United Arab Emirates. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

Vindicating his decision to stay in the UAE rather than tee up in California on the PGA Tour, MacIntyre sits joint-eighth on eight-under, two ahead of Connor Syme, Craig Howie and joint-overnight leader Scott Jamieson. Forrest also made the cut.

In the Saudi International, Spain’s Adri Arnaus and American Charles Varner III share the halfway lead on 10-under.

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