Frankie Minoza’s love affair with the Bukit Course at Singapore Island Country Club continued as he moved into the halfway lead of the Caltex Singapore Masters with a course record 61, ten under par, for a 17 under par total of 125, equalling the European Tour record for the lowest first 36 holes.
Minoza, 41 years old from the Philippines, leads Masters champion Vijay Singh, winner of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open last week, by two strokes at the end of another day of sweltering heat and low scoring.
Tiger Woods also shot 125 in the opening two rounds of the WGC – NEC Invitational last year but over the par 70 Firestone course. Last year Alastair Forsyth fired a 17 under par total of 127 over the first two rounds of the Brazil Sao Paulo 500 Years Open. The lowest 36 holes on The European Tour were achieved by Colin Montgomerie when he completed the last two rounds of the 1996 Canon European Masters in 124 strokes, 18 under par.
Minoza, undoubtedly the richest sportsman in the Philippines, has won twice at Singapore Island Country Club before, once as an amateur in the 1970’s and again in 1998 when he captured the Rolex Masters. He has also recorded two runners-up finishes in the Singapore Open. For the past eleven years he has dedicated his time to playing the Japan Tour, winning five titles.
“This course is one of my favourites,” said Minoza. “But I can’t believe I shot 61. The first nine I was hitting my driver not so good but the irons were very good and my putter worked today.”
Minoza picked up three birdies on the front nine but rolled in seven birdies, including five in succession from the 12th, for a back nine of 29 with only ten putts. Only his putt on the par three 14th was longer than ten feet.
Minoza’s nearest challenger is Singh, who using a local caddie added a 63 to his opening 64 to move to 15 under par. Starting at the tenth, Singh birdied three of the first four holes on his way to an outward half of 31. Three more birdies coming home, including two to conclude his round, put him right in the frame for back-to-back victories on the European Tour International Schedule.
“I started well,” he said. “Birdied three out of the first four holes and anytime you start like that you feel very confident, especially after shooting 64 on the first day. I didn’t get in any trouble, hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts.
“One of my main goals this year was to be more consistent and I’m doing that right now. I’m driving the ball straighter than I was last year and putting well. Certainly playing better than I was this time last year.”
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington continues to lead the European Tour challenge in the event co-sanctioned with the Asian PGA’s Davidoff Tour despite a torrid time with the driver in which he only hit two fairways all day. After hitting only four fairways in the first round he thought it couldn’t get much worse but instead of finding himself in the first cut of rough he was continuously deep in the trees. Nevertheless he fought back with four birdies in the last five holes to post a 67 to move to 12 under par. His only par over that stretch came on the 16th where he made a miraculous recovery, again from the trees, holing a 15 foot par putt.
“Even the monkeys and snakes don’t go where I was,” he said. “It wore me down and I lost a lot of confidence in anything I was doing. I made the score over the last four holes. The timing was out. Rushed the swing a bit at the top and lost confidence after that.”
Harrington shares third place with Thailand’s Prayed Marksaeng, who shot an eight under par 63, while Dutchman Maarten Lafeber and Oliver Edmond of France lie a further shot off the pace.
Lafeber, joint seventh last week in Malaysia, put his good form down to his improved mental approach after teaming up by sports psychiatrist Jos Vantisphout over the winter. Vantisphout, who also works with Darren Clarke, Michael Campbell and Harrington among others, has instilled a new sense of self-belief and calm in the 26 year old.
“I’m quite surprised by my form this early as I made some changes in my swing and also started working with Jos last December. I worked with him for three days. Mentally my game is so much better. Because I am calmer I am playing so much better. Much more relaxed on the course.
“He told me to have more trust in myself. To have more belief that I am a good player. Don’t be afraid to shoot good numbers. Don’t lose a lot of energy getting angry. Just be calm and take things as they come. It makes a big difference.
“I used the think the worst thing in the world was making bogeys. But it is not at all. I’m more relaxed on the course now.”
Lafeber also spent some time in Florida working on some swing changes with his coach Lief Nyholm and is now reaping the rewards, adding a 67 to his opening 64 to move to 11 under par.
Edmond shot his lowest round on the European Tour, his seven under par 64 taking him to 11 under 131. The 1998 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year missed the 1999 season through illness but kept his card last year despite struggling with tiredness for the latter part of the season. Now after a winter of training he is back to full fitness.
“For the first time in three years I feel I am fully fit,” said Edmond. “Last year I couldn’t concentrate for more than 12 holes. Now I feel I can play at 100% and I am just waiting for good results.”
