Van Zyl leads in Turkey after notching 7-shot lead

South Africa's Jaco van Zyl remained the man to catch at the halfway stage of the $7 million Turkish Airlines Open on Friday, as he opened up a two-shot lead on the top of the leaderboard.

At the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course, van Zyl had raced to a seven-shot lead at one stage when he was five-under par through his first 12 holes.

But he gave some hope to the field as he cooled off coming in.

Two bogeys by the South African ensured that England’s Richard Bland (65) and Chris Wood (66) were within striking distance at 12-under par 132, while 2013 champion Victor Dubuisson (64) and Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti were tied fourth at 11-under par, three behind.

World number three and the reigning European number one Rory McIlroy (67) saved a miraculous par on the 18th hole for the second successive day and was four behind the leader at 134 with France's Alexander Levy (65).
Van Zyl, who was laid off for 30 weeks last year because of surgery on both his knees, and then had to endure another two-month wait following another procedure on his left knee, continued from where he left off on Thursday and five birdies in the first 12 holes gave him a seven-shot lead at that stage.

But the man who started the year on medical exemption but is now ranked 51st in the Race to Dubai, fumbled slightly coming in, with bogeys on the 13th and 17th (the fourth and eighth of the golf course) after hitting his tee shots into the water on both holes.

"I had a quick look on the first green (at the leaderboard). It was a little bit surreal. Really enjoyable, but surreal," said van Zyl when asked if he was aware of leading by seven shots.

"I hit it really nicely the first nine holes. Obviously, didn’t make as many putts as I did yesterday. And unfortunately a couple of loose ones coming in.

"Lying on the couch for a year, you don’t quite know what to expect. Being in the position that I am in now, after what I went through last year, I'll take whatever at this stage.

"I’m really comfortable where I am right now and hopefully I will be tomorrow morning when I wake up."

- Seven Birdies

Bland, who started on the 10th hole, was even par after his first nine, and then made seven birdies on his back nine for the 65.
Wood had just one bogey in his card, on the par-3 second, but was flawless thereafter in the seven-birdie round.

McIlroy pulled his tee shot into the right of the 18th hole again like Thursday, but this time, he had to take a penalty shot.

But the Northern Irishman shot a great wood shot out of the rough for his third, and made his up-and-down for par and a second consecutive bogey-free round.

"It was good. I felt like it was a round that could have been a bit better, especially the way I played around the middle of the round," said McIlroy.

"Not taking advantage of some of the holes coming in is a little disappointing. But anytime you can go the first 36 holes of a tournament without a bogey, it's not too bad."

Graeme McDowell (65) and Lee Westwood (71) were tied for eighth place one shot behind McIlroy, while 22-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick jumped up to 11th place at eight-under par with a 63, the best round of the day.

Source: AFP