After two rounds of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the lead is 100% Italian: Francesco Molinari and Guido Migliozzi share the first position at -10. They are followed by Jason Scrivener at -9. The French also performed well in these first rounds: Alexander Levy and Victor Perez are fourth at -8. Special mention to Victor Perez who signs the co-best card of the second round with a 65 (-7).

Italians and French in form for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Francesco Molinari during the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

The DP World Tour season is relaunched and the first major event on the calendar has started: the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. This is the first Rolex Series stamped tournament of the year 2023. Like each Rolex Series in 2023 except the DP World Tour Championship, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship offers a prize pool of 9 million dollars. 

After two laps, two men are in the lead at -10, an all-Italian pair of Francesco Molinari and Guido Migliozzi. The former winner of The Open returns two cards of 100 (-67) while his young compatriot returns cards of 5 (-65) and 7 (-69). The two leaders are one step ahead of the Australian Jason Scrivener who completes the podium.

In fourth position, there are two Frenchmen: Victor Perez and Alexander Levy. The first of them signs the best Friday card. Perez scores eight birdies for a bogey and a nice 65 (-7). Alexander Levy meanwhile, signs two cards of 68 (-4). Our French are only two shots from the lead before the start of the weekend.

Antoine Rozner is the third tricolor in the top 10: ninth at -7. 

Luke Donald, the next Ryder Cup captain and leader of the first round, had a more difficult Friday. His +3 card demotes him to 22nd place.

Matthieu Pavon is the fourth Frenchman who will be present this weekend in Abu Dhabi. He is 34th at -4 for the event.

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To find the complete leaderboard of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship: click here.

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