England’s Simon Khan shot only the fifth 27 over nine holes in European Tour history when he raced to the turn in nine under par in the second round of The Celtic Manor Wales Open on his way to a course record 61, 11 under par, and into the halfway lead.
Khan’s breath-taking round, where he had a chip for an historic 59 on the last, took him to 14 under par 130, two strokes ahead of fellow Englishman Paul Casey, who shot his own impressive 63 which would have equalled the course record but for Khan’s fireworks.
Khan started his round with four birdies followed by an eagle and another birdie before his run of sub par scores was halted by a par three on the seventh. But two more birdies to the turn made him only the third player to shoot nine under par for nine holes.
He joins Spain’s José Maria Cañizares (1978 Swiss Open at Crans-sur-Sierre) and Swede Joakim Haeggman (1997 Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews) in the record books for shooting nine under par 27 while England’s Robert Lee has also twice shot 27, first in the 1985 Johnnie Walker Monte Carlo Open at Mont Agel for seven under par and again in the 1987 Portuguese Open at Estoril for six under par.
Turning for home Khan picked up another shot at the 11th but birdie putts of ten feet on the 13th and five feet on the 15th slipped by the hole. The chance of a 59 was back on with a birdie on the 17th, leaving the 31 year old needed to eagle the par five 18th for a place in history.
His job was made harder when he pulled his drive into the left rough but he managed to propel his second shot just short of the green. His chip for the magical 59 ran 15 feet past and he missed the return for a 61.
“As the round went on I couldn’t help but think of the 59, and after 11 holes, I felt there was a chance for it,” said Khan. “But I feel fantastic and it is surprising how relaxed I was.
“I was four under after four with a par five to come. I didn’t actually play the fifth too well, didn’t hit a great drive or three wood but I saw the pitch, a little low one, try to check it in the bank and run it down and when that went in, suddenly I was six under after five. After that I thought I mustn’t stick here, tried to think I was level par after six and kick on from there as I would in any other round.”
But it was far from an average round with playing partner James Kingston of South Africa, who shot a 66 to move to eight under par alongside Swedish Rookie Steve Jeppesen (65), describing it as “the best nine holes I have ever seen”.
Casey, the highest ranked player in the field at 30th in the Official World Golf Ranking, picked up nine birdies and nine pars in a flawless round as he led the chase to catch Khan. From as early as the third Casey, who once had a putt for a 59 in US college golf, was aware Khan was putting together a sensational score and he and playing partners started having a friendly wager as to what he would finish on.
“My round was down to chasing Simon,” said Casey. “It takes your mind off what you are shooting as you are just trying to chase their score and get your name on the leaderboard. His 61 is very, very impressive and at least he had a chip for a 59. Very few guys will ever have a chance for a 59 coming up the last and it would have been great if he had done it.”
Seven time Volvo Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie lies three shots further back on nine under par 135 after a four under par 68 put him into a share of third place.
“It’s nice to be on the leaderboard at halfway,” he said. “I am playing well enough, not putting well to be honest, only holing the ones which have to be holed from three or four feet. But if you had told me at the start of the week I would be nine under at halfway I'd have taken it and run off."
Montgomerie was joined later in the day by 2003 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, Peter Lawrie, of Ireland, who carded an eight under par 64.
Having watched Khan's round unfold before he set out, the Dubliner knew a low score was needed and rose to the challenge, picking up five birdies in a front nine of 31. More impressive was the nine iron he holed at the tenth from 150 yards for an eagle two and a sixth birdie on the 14th took him to eight under for the day, although it could have been one better but for a hosreshoed putt on the last from ten feet.
"The goal today was to try to get to eight or nine under so achieved that," said Lawrie. "I saw Simon’s round on television and thought it must be easy out there but then saw the first flag and thought perhaps not. But I hit some good shots and holed a few nice putts. I had a few chances coming in but didn’t really threaten the hole. But overall I'm delighted and see what happens over the weekend."
