Rafael Cabrera-Bello was glad he had kept a spare driver handy when he carded a three-under-par 69 in the second round to take the clubhouse lead at the Avantha Masters today.
The Spaniard, whose stunning final round of 60 won him the Austrian Golf Open title in 2009, dropped two shots in his last three holes but still led at eight-under, thanks to the reserve driver he just happened to arrive in India with.
Of the Irish involved Gareth Maybin finished his round with a 71 and is on three-under, while Paul McGinley is on seven-over following a 75.
‘I was very lucky to have that driver with me because I have never carried a reserve driver in my life,’ Cabrera-Bello told reporters at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
‘I only had it because they had built me a new one a few weeks ago and I haven't been home since then. So it was lucky to have it in my luggage.
‘I hit the original driver this morning and heard something strange and then it was rattling. So I told my caddie to go back to the locker to get the new one.
‘I didn't know how it was going to go but I hit it great this morning and then not so good this afternoon but I am sure it will be alright.’
Trailing him by one stroke was a group of six, including the Indian duo of Jeev Milkha Singh and Shiv Kapur, when bad light cut short the day's proceedings.
Singh was three-under for the day after 11 holes, while Kapur added a bogey-free 65 to his opening round of 72 to stay in contention for his maiden European Tour title.
‘The 30-minute break between the finish of the first round and the start of the second did me a world of good. I spent some time with the coach and we found something that helped me through the second round,’ the 28-year-old Kapur said, without elaborating.
Heavy fog delayed Thursday's play by three-and-half hours, forcing 66 players to return on Friday to complete their first round and then begin their second.
