December 02-05
Fire Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai
€1,200,000
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Andy Sullivan cruised into a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, where the Englishman's 17 under total came close to breaking a new European Tour record for lowest 36-hole score.

"We spoke about it to my psychologist before I went out , it's basically just about staying patient and give yourself as many chances as possible. It is hard, I really had to work hard at staying patient, when I was three under through nine it didn't feel as good as yesterday , but you know you're still on the right track. I knew I was swinging it well and if I could keep giving myself opportunities I could make a few coming in. If you'd told me I'd shoot 61-66 I'd have snapped your hand off.

"My processes were really good . I felt like I went through everything I should have done, I was seeing the lines really well . Pace was a bit firm today and I hit a few a few feet by, which is why I missed on the high side a few times. I just stuck to m y process, it's the only thing I could control out there and it has been working."

The 33-year-old already has one victory under his belt this season, having won the English Championship in August by a remarkable seven strokes with a 27 under total.

"I feel like I've got the golf ball under some sort of control at the moment . I know what shapes I can hit and how much I can move it. It just feels really comfortable out there off the tee and into the greens, it feels like there aren't many pins I can't get at, which is a nice feeling to have. It d idn't happen too often in the season, so it's nice to have that."

Sullivan revelled in the low-scoring conditions once again on the Fire Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he carded five birdies and his first eagle of the week to sign for a six-under 66 to add to his opening 61 - with his 17 under halfway total one shy of Ernie Els's 18 under par record for the lowest first 36 holes to par set at the midway point of the 2004 Heineken Classic.

That put some daylight between the former Ryder Cup player and his English compatriots Ross Fisher and Matt Wallace, who shared second place on 14 under heading into the weekend. Scotland's Craig Howie, German Max Schmitt and Antoine Rozner of France were all two strokes further back.

"It's very satisfactory to make as many birdies as I have, but to not make a bogey in 36 holes, I'm delighted with," said Fisher. "I think - I'll have to check it - but if my stats are correct , I haven't missed a green either. For 36 holes, to hit every single green. I missed the par five, but it was just off the edge. Very satisfying. 

" It was trickier today, a bit fresh first thing in the morning. Standing on that 10th tee, no one saw any tee shot at all hitting into the sun. It was playing ling first thing. Patience was a big thing, waiting for the weather to warm up and you could start hitting the clubs you were hitting yesterday. So, it was tricky out there but managed to get away with no bogeys, five birdies, pretty satisfied."

"I don't know (why it's hard to follow up a low round with another) but it seems to happen more often than not. Someone will shoot 64, 63, 62, it's very hard to then go out and shoot a 64, 65. It's a difficult one, because you feel like you're playing well, swinging well, putting well. Yesterday, making all those birdies and one eagle, you feel like the game's in good shape. Get myself on the green, get a good look and I should be able to roll some in. I made five today, there were probably at least a handful that slipped by. It would have been nice to get one on nine there. but I'm not going to stand here and complain that I've missed a few putts. I'm 14 under, haven't made a bogey, so life's pretty good."