CHIPPING ON: Spanish golfer Rafael Cabrera-Bello hits out from the rough during the second round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters at the Doha Golf Club yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram

By Satya Rath/Doha


For many, number 13 is supposed to be unlucky. Not for Rafael Cabrera-Bello. The unassuming Spaniard’s 13-under-par total was enough to surge him to halfway lead after the second round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, at the Doha Golf Club yesterday.
Cabrera-Bello outscored playing partner and Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley by 12 shots, adding a sparkling 65 to his opening round
66 to take a two-shot lead going into the
weekend rounds of the US$2.5 million European Tour event.
The two-time European Tour winner carded one bogey and eight birdies—five of those gains coming in the last seven holes as he covered the back nine in 31—to dislodge first-round leader George Coetzee of South Africa from the top.
Coetzee did well to come home with 69 for a two-day total of 11-under, and but for his double miss on the par-4 11th to go with his two earlier bogeys, could have been much better placed. Swede Johan Carlsson (65) and English duo Matthew Baldwin (66) and Steve Webster (69) shared the third spot at 10-under.
Among other big names, World No 11 Sergio Garcia shot 67 to move to six-under, one ahead of World No. 3 Henrik Stenson (71) and two clear of former World No 1 Martin Kaymer (70).
Luke Donald, another former World No 1, fired four birdies on the back nine to card a 69 and move to three-under, level with playing partner Jason Dufner (71), the 2013 PGA Championship winner. Four-time major winner Ernie Els fell back with a 76 and just made the cut at one-under.
Cabrera-Bello, whose only bogey in a blemish-free round came on the par-4 sixth, hoped number 13 would prove a lucky omen ahead of the weekend rounds.
“I don’t think 13 is an unlucky number for me around this course. I’m really happy, really pleased. Everything’s going good. I’m enjoying myself,” said the 29-year-old, who won his second European Tour title in Dubai two years ago and finished fourth in Abu Dhabi last week.
“It definitely feels like home around here. I like a little bit of breeze, I like seeing palm trees and I like seeing sun around the course. It does remind me a lot of the Canaries. I don’t feel like I’ve left home, that’s why I enjoy it so much,” the Canary Islands native added.

“It definitely feels like home around here. I like a little bit of breeze, I like seeing palm trees and I like seeing sun around the course. It does remind me a lot of the Canaries. I don’t feel like I have left home, that’s why I enjoy it here so much”

Webster, meanwhile, failed to repeat the fireworks of his opening 65, when he recorded what is believed to be the first ever albatross on the opening hole of a tournament. But the two-time European Tour winner still managed to chip in for a birdie on his first hole. He went on to add five more before three bogeys spoiled his round.
“It was a little bit scrappy today,” the 39-year-old Englishman said. “I missed the green with a lob wedge on the first and chipped in for a birdie which was nice. I played good but didn’t give myself enough chances, so a 69 is not bad. I’m happy with that.”
The cut fell at one-under par, with 76 players making it to the weekend finale. Defending Qatar Masters champion Chris Wood was one of those, the Englishman just about managing to scrape through on the mark thanks to a timely birdie on the 18th.
Among those who missed the cut was Miguel Angel Jimenez, a 20-time European Tour winner. The 49-year-old Spaniard carded a 73 yesterday to go with his opening round 71 to miss the qualifying mark by a whisker.
It was also a forgettable outing for the two 19-year-old Qatari amateurs in fray, Saleh al-Kaabi and Ali al-Bishi.
Al-Kaabi carded four birdies in his second-round 70 following an opening 78, while al-Bishi struggled to an 84 after starting with an encouraging 73, to miss the cut.