Price is right

Phillip Price held the sole lead as the second day of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship entered its latter stages.

After carding a first-round three-under-par 69, Price was in fine fettle today as he made eight birdies and just one bogey to move one shot clear of Padraig Harrington at 10-under-par.

The Welshman said: “I drove the ball fantastic and I putted well. It is nice to come somewhere you’ve been before.

“The greens are a little grainy but they are still good and it is good weather. I think all of the players will probably agree that the Middle East is a great place to come and play golf.”

European Order of Merit winner Harrington carded three successive birdies from the tee-off and then added a further two on his way to completing his first nine holes.

But the Irishman endured a less prosperous run coming home and a disappointing bogey on the ninth, his 18th, meant he had to settle for a nine-under-par 135.

Overnight leader Phillip Archer, who teed off in the afternoon, could only make par on his first nine holes and lay third, two shots off the lead, while Nick Dougherty carded birdies on the 14th and 15th to move to eight under after completing his first nine holes.

Retief Goosen also shot two birdies but a bogey on the seventh meant he stayed alongside Dougherty.

Chris DiMarco needed to improve on the back nine after he cancelled out two birdies with bogeys on the first and was three under, as was Colin Montgomerie who also carded two bogeys and two birdies.

Henrik Stenson had a disappointing day on the course after finishing joint second yesterday.

The Dubai-based Swede could only make par, with bogeys on the tricky par-four sixth and 12th proving to be his undoing.