Calum Hill delivered a remarkable performance at the Bahrain Championship, equaling the Royal Club’s course record with an impressive 11-under-par 61. This extraordinary round placed the 24-year-old Scotsman four shots ahead of his nearest competitor at the tournament’s midway point.
Hill’s breathtaking display included an impressive 11 birdies, matching the course’s previous record set by Brandon Robinson Thompson during the first round of the 2025 tournament. With this stellar performance, Hill now stands at 16 under par, firmly in the lead.
Freddy Schott, who led the first round, trails Hill, holding onto 12 under after carding a 67 to add to his opening 65. Ugo Coussaud follows closely in third at nine under, while a group of eleven players, including former Masters champion Sergio Garcia, are tied at eight under.
Reflecting on his record-equalling round, Hill expressed his excitement, stating, “I started off really well then had a few bonus putts from really long range go in and I just kept making birdies.” He acknowledged his awareness of the course record, revealing he aimed to hole his last shot to break it, adding, “It looked very good in the air. I thought it had a chance.”
Hill’s scoring kicked off with a birdie, and he quickly surged ahead by making three consecutive birdies starting from the fourth hole, drawing level with Schott. Additional birdies on the ninth and tenth holes brought him to 11 under, complemented by impressive approach shots that led to more birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.
While Hill maintained his momentum, Schott’s progress suffered with dropped shots at the 15th and 18th holes, allowing Hill to extend his lead further. Coussaud made a strong finish with back-to-back birdies, landing him the solo third spot.
As the tournament progresses, Hill’s performance shines a light on his potential for achieving his third title on the DP World Tour, igniting excitement among fans and followers of the sport.