Doha, Qatar: Brandon Robinson Thompson surged ahead at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, securing a two-shot lead heading to the weekend. His standout moment came on the 16th hole, where he made a sensational eagle, setting him apart from the chasing pack on Friday. The in-form Englishman has been riding high, having previously shattered the course record with an opening score of 61 at his last tournament.
Robinson Thompson continued his strong play at Doha Golf Club, carding a 66 on Thursday to share the first-round lead and followed it up with a flawless second round, posting no bogeys and earning a score of 68. His performance featured two birdies on the eighth and tenth holes and concluded with the 16th hole eagle, which brought him to ten under par for the tournament.
“I’ve been here so many times. I used to come here every year for about five or six years. I’ve played this course 50 or 60 times. I’m so comfortable out here,” said Robinson Thompson, who expressed gratitude for the support he received from friends during the tournament.
South Korean MK Kim, alongside Chinese players Wenyi Ding and Li Haotong, was tied for second place at eight under par after carding rounds of 67 on day two. Japan's Keita Nakajima and England's Dan Brown were tied for fifth, one shot behind the trio. Unfortunately, Qatar's Daniil Sokolov and Saleh Al Kaabi both missed the cut, finishing well behind the leaders at 126th and 138th positions, respectively.
Meanwhile, home hero Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera took command at the Qatar International Rally, leading by 1 minute 47.3 seconds after six punishing stages through the northeastern desert. Al-Attiyah excelled, winning two of the morning's three speed tests and then two of the afternoon’s repeats.
“Very good day. We did a good job and I am happy. We had only one puncture, and the rest was good,” al-Attiyah said, acknowledging the challenge of maintaining his pace with such demanding conditions.
Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, driving with Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore, closely follows al-Attiyah after strong showings, stating, “I think this is my first proper rally in the Citroën. I am very happy...Lorcan did a very good job.” Al-Kuwari noted the difficulty of reading the roads at high speed.
Mads Ostberg faced challenges which included double punctures, which impeded his efforts to catch al-Attiyah. “It’s going a bit wrong this time,” he admitted. Despite setbacks, Ostberg managed to rebound from fourth place to hold onto third overall, determined to mount pressure on al-Kuwari during the next stages of the rally.
Observing the standings, Abdullah al-Rawahi showcased resilience, recovering from several punctures to stay competitive within the top four. “I am just happy we made it back here and we are still in a good position,” he commented.
The rally continues to draw excitement with drivers, such as Rakan al-Rashed - who made his debut at the rally - aiming to maintain pace after overcoming puncture issues. Al-Rashed remarked, “It’s my first time here in Qatar...this rally can be challenging.”
Saturday's rally action begins with the Umm Birka stage, which is the longest at 21.51 kilometers, kicking off at 8:33 am. This will be followed by runs at Ras Laffan and Al Thakhira, before re-approaching the Lusail for regrouping and service.
The thrilling weekend of sporting events continues to position Qatar as not only hosting world-class competitions but also serving as a venue showcasing exceptional talent from local and international athletes. Fans are treated to highlights from both ends of the sporting spectrum, from the greens of golf to the gritty grit of rally racing.