(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Raphaël Jacquelin may be in his 21st full season on the European Tour but he learned it is never too late to experience something new yesterday at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
The 1997 Challenge Tour graduate has played 574 events including four wins and a top ten at the Open Championship in 2011 but he recorded his first ever albatross in round two at Doha Golf Club.
The Frenchman struck a two-hybrid from 245 yards into the hole at the tenth and in doing so became just the second man to get down in two on a par five at this event after Steve Webster on the same hole four years ago.
'I've had to wait a long time for it but they are not very common so it was fantastic, he said.
'It was a perfect shot. It was a hybrid two, the yardage was 224 metres to the pin and I couldn't have hit it better. A little kick right on the green took it straight in so it was fantastic. That's the only word for it!
'It took 25 years but I'm very pleased with it.
The three-shot gain was part of a 66 that moved Jacquelin to eight under par just three off the lead and with five shots separating the top 34, it was all to play for in the Qatari capital.
'I made a good move during today as well because I was playing well, two under front nine and then obviously after an albatross you feel a lot more comfortable, he said.
'I managed to play alright on the back nine and finished with a nice four on the 18th for an eight under total.
'The way I was playing at the end of last year, beginning of this year was not very good but I worked a lot on my swing and I'm hitting it better and scoring better.
MENAFN2402201800670000ID1096509376
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.