Hill's Masterclass Elevates Bahrain Championship

TDT | Manama

Email : hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Scotland’s Calum Hill produced one of the rounds of the DP World Tour season yesterday, surging into a four-shot lead at the BAPCO Energies Bahrain Championship after matching the Royal Golf Club course record with a flawless 11-under-par 61. The two-time DP World Tour winner, who claimed his most recent title at the Joburg Open last March following a final-round comeback, now sits at 16 under par after two rounds. He is firmly established as the man to beat heading into today’s third round, with the final round scheduled for Sunday.

Hill was in imperious form from the outset, carding 11 birdies without a blemish. “Today was really good,” Hill said. “I started off really well and then had a few bonus putts from really long range go in. It just kept making birdies, which was nice.” As his round progressed, he remained aware of the course record. “I knew the course record was 11 under, so I knew I needed to hole my last approach shot to break it. It looked very good in the air. I thought it had a chance, but just long. Still, it was nice to finish with a birdie.”

The performance echoed last year’s opening-round 61, when England’s Brandon Robinson Thompson set the same record at Royal Golf Club. Hill, who suffered an early exit from the Hero Dubai Desert Classic last week, now looks to regain form on a course that offered scoring opportunities in calm conditions.

Germany’s Freddy Schott, the overnight co-leader, remains Hill’s closest challenger after a composed second-round 67 left him alone in second at 12 under par. The 24-year-old got off to a flying start with a chip-in at the first hole and later added an eagle on the par-five 14th, showcasing his scoring touch. Just behind him, France’s Ugo Coussaud occupies third place at nine under following a steady four-under 68. Meanwhile, first-round co-leader Alejandro Del Rey slipped back after a one-over 71, joining a crowded tie for fourth at eight under alongside Andrea Pavan, Nacho Elvira, Julien Guerrier, Daniel Hillier, Shubhankar Sharma, Casey Jarvis, JC Ritchie, and Joost Luiten. Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia also moved into this group with an impressive six-under 66 in his first DP World Tour appearance of 2026. Further down the leaderboard, defending champion Laurie Canter dropped to five under after a second-round 73, while Patrick Reed bounced back with a four-under 67 to reach six under par. Notably, 2024 champion Dylan Frittelli failed to make the cut, highlighting the challenge of the Royal Golf Club and the depth of the field this week.

The tournament, held under the patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, features 138 players from 28 countries competing for a $2.75 million prize fund, with half the field eliminated at the cut after two rounds. The Championship Village also saw full attendance, with fans enjoying a vibrant atmosphere alongside the action on the course.

As Hill prepares for the remaining rounds, all eyes will be on whether he can convert his spectacular start into a third DP World Tour title. The packed stands and historic setting provide a fitting backdrop for a championship already producing memorable moments.