Stenson rises up Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard after rediscovering top form

DUBAI // The way his week began at Emirates Golf Club, even a flawless second round for Henrik Stenson on Friday may have seemed a bit of a let-down.

The world No 3 trended north on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard and into contention with a blemish-free 67, yet it was still not his best day’s work on his latest visit to a track he knows well.

As one of 21 past winners of the tournament, Stenson was invited to participate in Tuesday’s one-off Champions Challenge, which carried a prize fund of US$1 million (Dh3.67m).

The Swede dutifully lined admittedly already-well-stitched pockets, sewing up first place alongside Rafael Cabrera-Bello. In the process, the pair shared a US$500,000 prize between them.

“Yeah, that wasn’t a bad Tuesday, was it?” Stenson joked following an impressive second round around the Majlis that put him within four shots of leader Rory McIlroy.

Not that Stenson needs the extra cash. It is only months, after all, since he won both the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai titles, taking his 2013 on-course earnings to around $20m.

Back in the emirate where he last landed sizeable loot, not to mention where he laid down roots for 10 years as a resident, Stenson is again pulling up trees. Five birdies provided the only colour on his card, the by-product of a red-hot flat stick.

“That’s the best I’ve putted for a long, long time,” he said. “Threatened every time I was on the green.”

Stenson is certainly a danger here. If his recaptured status as one of the game’s big fish put a significant dent in his pre-season preparations – off-course commitments contributed to a campaign-opening missed cut in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago – then the period between then and now has been well spent.

Tuesday’s knock-around 66 highlighted as much.

“That was by far the best I’ve played this year,” Stenson said. “I didn’t play as good either yesterday or today, but it’s still a work in progress, still early in the year. I’m not worried by any means.”

Perhaps McIlroy is the one who should be worried. Cast a glance over his shoulder, sift through a chasing pack full of relatively unheralded names, and Stenson’s presence would set off a few alarm bells. Especially around this circuit.

“There’s not too many courses I know better than the Majlis at Emirates Golf Club,” said Stenson, who was out in the early morning and therefore concluded his work well before McIlroy ended his round.

“We’ll see where we are at the end of the day, but I did my bit. I shot a good score and still have another two days to keep on moving up. Hopefully we’ll get on a good run again.”

jmcauley@thenational.ae