Economic city of King Abdullah (Saudi Arabia) (AFP)
He was in ambush Thursday, he attacked Friday: the French golfer Victor Perez, author of a 65 card, took the head of Saudi International, a tournament of the European circuit disputed in Saudi Arabia.
"I am delighted with my second career," said the 41st world player, 27 years old.
"It's the turn where you have to try to take maximum advantage (...) I'm in a very good position for tomorrow (Saturday)", added the Frenchman, winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2019 and second in Abu Dhabi mid-January.
Distanced Thursday by a stroke by the Malaysian Gavin Green and the North Irish Graeme McDowell, who had made a first card of 64, Perez now leads the dance with a stroke ahead of the first and two on McDowell.
Friday morning, the new leader made four birdies on his first nine holes and one on his last hole, No. 9.
Penalized by the wind that rose during the afternoon session, Green said he was still "happy" with his second card.
Among the headliners, the world No.12 Patrick Reed and the Abu Dhabi winner Lee Westwood failed to pass the cut.
Saudi Arabian titleholder Dustin Johnson is tied for 8th, five strokes from Perez.
Thanks to his performances in Saudi Arabia, pending the last two days of the tournament, and in Abu Dhabi, the Frenchman is 4th in the Race to Dubai, a classification which allows to designate the N.1 of the European circuit at the end of the season.
© 2020 AFP