ABU DHABI // Rafa Cabrera Bello made the most of “very, very scoreable conditions” on Friday morning to move into the lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, but given his liking to the region, perhaps that was to be expected.
The Spaniard, now based in Dubai, has many good memories of the Middle East to draw inspiration from, having won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2012. Last year, he finished runner-up in both Dubai and Qatar.
A second-round 66 in Abu Dhabi improved significantly his chances of going one better this week, as seven birdies and one bogey moved Cabrera Bello to the top of the leaderboard. By the time he came off the National Course, he held a three-shot advantage over his nearest competitor, compatriot and 2014 Abu Dhabi champion, Pablo Larrazabal.
It seems Cabrera Bello, something of a desert specialist, is at it again.
“I always said it: I like playing in warm weather, I like playing in breezy conditions and I like watching palm trees and being under the sun,” Cabrera Bello said. “Who doesn’t? “It reminds me of home, of the Canary Islands. If I break it down to that, I think that’s probably why I’m happy living here.”
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Beginning on the back nine, Cabrera Bello posted four birdies in five holes between 12 and 16, before a bogey at the sixth threatened to derail a fine round. However, he responded immediately by birdieing the next, then firing two more to sign off for a 6-under par 66.
Asked what he thought his lead would be by the close of play, Cabrera Bello said: “I have no idea. I don’t know if it’s going to be very breezy. I do think I’ll have a very good chance going into the weekend. That’s all I care about.”
By early afternoon, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, tied-third last month in Hong Kong in his most recent European Tour appearance, moved within two shots of Cabrera Bello following a bogey-free 67. Larrazabal was one stroke further back, alongside Wang Jeung-hun, the rising star from South Korea. Both shot 67s, too.
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If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Racecard:
6.30pm: Mazrat Al Ruwayah (PA) | Group 2 | US$55,000 (Dirt) | 1,600 metres
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint (TB) | Group 2 | $250,000 (Turf) | 1,000m
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,600m
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy | Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
8.50pm: Balanchine | Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (D) | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m.
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History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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