A session with former snooker World Champion Ken Doherty’s sports psychologist helped Ireland’s Colm Moriarty into the perfect frame of mind to post a second consecutive four under par 68 to take control of the Skandia PGA Open at the tournament’s halfway stage, the Irishman taking a two stroke lead over Finland’s Jaako Mäkitolo and establishing holding three shot cushion between himself and Scotland’s David Patrick.
Moriarty has found himself far more relaxed and focused on the job in hand following his meetings with Liam Moggin back in his native Ireland, and he is hoping that his partnership with the psychologist can inspire him to the same kind of heights that his countryman Doherty achieved on the green baize.
He has certainly made a positive start at the Arlandstad Golf Club in Sweden, dropping just one shot in his opening 36 holes and putting on a fine display of controlled golf to take that two shot lead from Mäkitolo.
Two birdies and an eagle three saw him reach the turn of the par 70 Arlandstad course in 30 shots before his only bogey of the tournament so far was cancelled out with a birdie on the 15th to ensure a two stroke lead from Mäkitolo.
“I played well again today,” said Moriarty. “Driving the ball well is the key around this course and I have been in good form off the tee lately so it has suited me this week.
“Also, I have been working with Liam back home and I have been a lot more relaxed on the course because of that. Beforehand I was thinking too much on the course if you like, but I seem to be concentrating on the right things at the moment.
“I have been using the belly putter for the first time this season here this week and it is amazing what a difference the little things like that can make in this game. I’ve also been doing a lot of good work with my coach Brendan McDaid back home in Ireland, and hopefully I can keep it going over the weekend and get my first win on the board.”
Mäkitolo, meanwhile, steadied himself brilliantly after a roller coaster showing in the first nine holes of the second round. The 23 year old, who led after the first round, started his round on the back nine and turned in three over par with a double bogey, four bogeys, a birdie and an eagle before playing the front nine in four under 30 to get back into contention on six under par.
Patrick put together a solid 69 to move to third on the leaderboard – one ahead of the English duo of Stuart Davis and Edward Rush, who posted respective second rounds of 69 and 68 to get to four under par and a share of fourth position.
