Macaulay back in right frame of mind

KAZAKHSTAN OPEN: Aided by both his newly-found mental strength and a large slice of luck, Callum Macaulay yesterday moved firmly into contention on the second day at a tournament which carries the biggest prize fund of a regular Challenge Tour event.

Macaulay credited his new mental coach after signing for a second successive round of 69 for a midway aggregate total of six-under-par 138, which leaves him five shots off the pace set by Ireland’s Simon Thornton.

Macaulay said: “I’ve been struggling mentally as much as anything else, because I felt like I was striking the ball well enough, but just not getting anything out of my rounds.

“So I decided to see a mental coach back home, and I’ve definitely felt the benefit of my work with her over the last two days, because my head has been in the right place.”