A Stunning 61 Shatters Records and Ignites the Bahrain Championship!
Get ready for some incredible golf action! At the halfway point of the Bahrain Championship, Calum Hill has not only surged into the lead but has also etched his name in the history books by equalling the Royal Club's course record with an astonishing 11-under-par 61! This performance has propelled the Scottish golfer to a commanding four-shot lead heading into the weekend.
The Leaderboard So Far:
- -16: C. Hill (Scotland)
- -12: F. Schott (Germany)
- -9: U. Coussaud (France)
And here's where it gets truly exciting... Hill's remarkable round saw him sink 11 birdies, a personal best in his competitive career. He matched the previous course record, a feat also achieved by Brandon Robinson Thompson in the first round of the 2025 tournament. This incredible display puts him at 16 under par overall, giving him a substantial advantage over the rest of the field.
The 24-year-old, who is vying for his third DP World Tour title, has certainly made a statement. He now sits comfortably ahead of the first-round leader, Freddy Schott. Schott, after his initial strong performance, added a 67 to his opening 65, bringing his total to 12 under par. That's a solid effort, but Hill's brilliance has truly stolen the show.
But this is the part most people miss... The gap between Schott and the next contender, Frenchman Ugo Coussaud, is a significant three shots. Coussaud is currently in solo third place at 9 under par. Following closely behind is a crowded group of 11 players all sitting at 8 under par, a pack that includes the renowned former Masters champion, Sergio Garcia.
Hill himself described his round with a mix of elation and near-misses. "I started off really well then had a few bonus putts from really long range go in and I just kept making birdies," he shared. He even admitted to being aware of the course record, stating, "I knew the course record was 11 under, so I knew I needed to hole my last shot [to break it] and it looked very good in the air. I thought it had a chance." While he narrowly missed breaking the record outright, his performance was nothing short of spectacular.
His journey through the round was a masterclass in golf. He began with a birdie, then strung together three more consecutive birdies from the fourth hole, bringing him level with Schott. Further birdies at the ninth and tenth holes pushed him to 11 under, and after some outstanding approach shots, he secured more birdies at the 13th and 14th. After a par at the 15th, he finished his round with an incredible three consecutive birdies. This strong finish, combined with Schott dropping shots at the 15th and 18th, has gifted Hill his handsome lead.
Meanwhile, Coussaud also ended his round on a high note with back-to-back birdies, securing his solo third position at 9 under. Even Patrick Reed, the champion from last week's Dubai event, is in contention, currently sitting at 6 under par.
Now, let's talk about what's next. With five players still needing to complete their second rounds, the leaderboard could still see some shifts. But the question on everyone's mind is: Can anyone catch Calum Hill's incredible pace? What do you think? Was Hill's round a sign of things to come, or will Schott or another contender make a dramatic comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
