Cazoo Open 2021 R2
July 22-25
The Celtic Manor Resort, City of Newport, Wales
€1,250,000
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Nacho Elvira started his round with a share of the lead at 7-under and closed with a 4-under 67 to move to 11-under and take a two shot lead on a windy Friday at the Cazoo Open supported by Gareth Bale.

Cazoo Open 2021 R2

Elvira, who has yet to win on the European Tour but has won four times on the Challenge Tour, has made just two cuts in his last eleven starts.

"It wasn't a rainbow, but it was pretty good. More calm than yesterday, I'd say. I didn't have as many birdies, but I didn't have as many bad numbers. Overall, it was a great round – especially with the wind picking up a little bit. So I'm very happy with four under."

Cazoo Open 2021 R2

"It's definitely playing a lot different than last year. The fairways are firm and the greens are firming up. You have to adjust to how much the ball is releasing on the greens, that's the most important thing. There were some tough pins today you had to stay away from. It worked out quite well.

"Anywhere close (to the leading groups) is always good. To be 100 per cent honest, I don't really care where I end up. I'm happy with how I'm trying to turn my game around, especially my mind around. So we 'll see what that brings."

Cazoo Open 2021 R2

Overnight co-leader Vincent Norrman bogeyed the par-3 7th and double bogeyed the par-4 8th but salvaged his round with five birdies on the back nine to close with a 69.

"It was tough on the front nine, a lot of wind. I hit a couple of really good shots, actually, but didn't really do what I wanted to do. I had some wrong numbers. I made a bogey on seven and then doubled eight, which was pretty bad.

"It was hard. I know I had two shots that I hit perfectly, but they were 15 long, then the guys I played with, it spun up a bit and then came up 20 short. There was a lot of wind.

"I'm very happy with how I turned it around. I birdied 11 – almost made eagle – and had a lot of chances coming in. On the last six or seven holes I had a lot of good opportunities and I took advantage of them.

"If I can step up one more spot, I'll be happy. I've never been in this situation before, so I don 't really know what to say, to be honest. If I play my game, I feel like I can finish it off but there's a lot of golf to be played. We 're only halfway."

Cazoo Open 2021 R2

Masahiro Kawamura played a brilliant 63, the best round of the day, firing seven birdies, an eagle at the par-5-11th and a bogey at the par-4 14th to take third place at 8-under.

"Today was perfect golf. A difficult golf course and difficult conditions – today was perfect. Last year it was more difficult, today it was windy and difficult too.

"Everything was good. Some good iron shots. Yesterday I didn't make putts, but today I did.

"(On 11), my second shot was a three wood to three metres, and I made the putt. I'm excited and looking forward to tomorrow. It's my best score on the European Tour. I enjoy playing on the Tour so much. I love travelling and love going to many different countries."

Cazoo Open 2021 R2

Matt Wallace made three bogeys and four birdies then finished with an eagle at the par-5 18th to close with a 68 and lies in fourth place at 7-under.

"I needed that finish. Sloppy errors on the holes that were playing the easiest – straight downwind. Misjudged the wind on 17, so I left myself a tricky two putt and was spooked by that a bit. But fell on a nice number (on 18) with a really good drive and rolled it in nicely. I'll take those positives into the weekend.

"It's tricky out there. I kept saying that to myself, because I felt like I was in position to play some really good golf and give myself chances but couldn't get it close to the hole or was in the semi-rough, which is harder to control on to the greens. There's some good pins out there today. If the wind stays like this, it's fair for everyone."

Cazoo Open 2021 R2