David Puig. Asian Tour

David Puig put himself in pole position for a first professional title at the St Andrews Bay Championship on the Asian Tour International Series on Friday.

The Spaniard opened up a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the sixth International Series event of the season thanks to a spectacular eight-under-par 64 — the lowest round of the week so far — to reach 14-under, with South African Jaco Ahlers in second place, following a 67.

Australians Matt Jones (65) and Andrew Dodt (68), Eugenio Chacarra (66) from Spain, England’s James Wilson (66), American Micah Lauren Shin (67), Korean Seungtaek Lee (67) and Chile’s Mito Pereira (68) are in a tie for third, four behind Puig.

Players took advantage of the bright and calm conditions at Fairmont St Andrews, where the Torrance Course is being used, to shoot low scores, with Puig once again excelling, making nine birdies, to go with the 10 he made yesterday.

Six of those birdies today came on the back nine, including the last four.

“Played pretty good again,” said Puig. “Didn’t start that good on the first five holes swing wise, but yeah, after number five, the par- three, I think I played very well and hit it very good off the tee. And almost made every putt I needed to make, so yeah, I’m very happy with my game.”

He’s come close to winning before on the Asian Tour, at last year’s International Series Morocco, where he was third, and last week’s International Series England, where he tied for fourth.

He has, however, enjoyed phenomenal team success on the LIV Golf League this season, winning four team titles with Torque — the franchise also consisting of captain Joaquin Niemann, Sebastian Munoz and Pereira.

Puig says he is reaping the rewards of many hours of practice and preparation.

“Off the tee I got a lot better for sure. I got longer and straighter with pretty much every club, which obviously helps a ton especially on courses like this one where you need to get to fairways,” he said,

“I would say because of focusing too much on that, maybe I am not that good, or as good as I want to be, or as good as I was with the wedges, but it’s a work in progress. I know it’s the best part of my game, it just didn’t show up yet the way I want it. But yeah, I mean working with Dave Phillips, who is my coach, we’ve been working hard, swing wise, setup wise and also in the gym, so very, very happy with the improvement.”