Defending champion Antoine Rozner is still without a bogey in Dubai, shooting a 64 on Friday for a one-shot lead heading into the weekend at the AVIV Dubai Championship.
“Even on the front nine, I think I was playing extremely good,” he remarked. “A couple of putts didn’t fall, but I just kept putting myself in good positions hole after hole, and a few putts actually fell on the back nine, which is fantastic.”
“I’m quite pleased with my round since it was one of my best ball striking rounds out here this year and last year.” The long game was just fantastic, and I was hitting it shot after shot.”
The Frenchman earned his first victory in the inaugural edition of the tournament last year and added to his tally this year by winning the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in March.
“You have to be too aggressive on a consistent basis, which I did quite well last year.” Obviously, I can draw on my previous experience, and I believe it is assisting me this week since I was so aggressive last year across four rounds, and I believe it is paying off again this week.
“Hopefully, if I can maintain doing what I’m doing for the next two days, I’ll have a good result.”
Joachim B. Hansen of Denmark, the overnight leader, had a bogey-free 67 to tie for second place at 14-under with Francesco Laporta of Italy, who shot a 64.
Finn Kalle Samooja recorded six straight birdies starting on the second hole, then added three more and a bogey on the par-3 14th for a 64 and a 13-under total.
One shot down at 12-under, Englishman Paul Waring carded a 67 to tie for fifth place with fellow countryman Tommy Fleetwood, who carded a 66.
