Englishman ranked 229 hits shot of his life to close in on £1.2m – and PGA Tour card

Whatever else Paul Waring gets to take from this Abu Dhabi Championship – and it is no exaggeration to say the rewards could be life-changing – the journeyman from the Wirral already has etched his name in the record books.

In shooting a second-round 61 for a 19-under total, Waring has recorded the lowest halfway total in relation to par in the 52-year history of the DP World Tour.

And if one considers the legends of majors and Ryder Cups who have gone before on the “European” circuit – and indeed, who is behind Waring here at Yas Links, (Rory McIlroy, for one, nine off the pace on 10 under) – his feat only seems that much more spectacular. Ernie Els’s 18-under heroics in Melbourne 20 years ago have finally been eclipsed.

Yet it could get better. So much better.

Waring is five ahead of his nearest pursuers – a group including Tommy Fleetwood and Thorbjorn Olesen – and has the £1.2 million first prize in his sights. With 331 tournaments under his belt and just the one victory – six years ago – the cheque would be five times larger than any he has so far picked up in his 17 years as a professional.

The riches would not stop there. Waring would be assured of finishing in the top 10 on the money list, who gain their PGA Tour cards for next year and that is worth a minimum of $500,000 (£386,000). The fanatical Liverpool fan turns 40 at the start of February – carry on in this ridiculous vein and he could be celebrating the milestone at Pebble Beach, the revered course in California, playing in a $20 million tournament.

A huge opportunity does not begin to describe it, because as Laurie Canter – another Englishman who, on 12 under, also has a shot at gaining playing privileges on the premier tour – put it: “Look, it’s obviously a dream for all of us to play full time in America. But not only that, with that huge financial guarantee they give to rookies, you are getting a free hit at it.”

For his part, Waring is determined not to fail by aiming low. He has suffered too many injuries in his career to shy away from the task.

“OK, I came here at 58th in the [Race to Dubai] standings and of course wanted to stay in the top who qualify for next week [the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai],” Waring, one of the most popular characters on the circuit, said. “But there are bigger things I want to achieve.

“For the top 25 in the standings at the end of next week, there is an Open spot next year. And if I get somewhere near a PGA Tour card … I know that’s a big ask and is going to require a couple of thirds or a couple of seconds or something. But why not have those goals?”

Why not indeed, especially when the world No 229 can belie his standing by conjuring shots such as his three-wood on the par-five 18th on Friday. From 265 yards, he hit to a few feet for a birdie and it even took pride of place over his chip-in for an eagle on the sixth. “It’s the best shot I have ever hit,” Waring said after signing for his 11-under magnificence, the lowest round of his career and a course record.

In 36 holes, Waring has made 18 birdies and an eagle to go with his solitary bogey. “My caddie is having a laugh with me – ‘just keep birding 50 per cent of the holes and we’ll be OK’,” he said.

There is rich quality in behind, however. Tyrrell Hatton and Matt Wallace are in a tie for sixth on 12 under, while McIlroy will take inspiration from being 10 behind after two rounds in Dubai at the start of the year and coming through on the weekend to prevail.

But for a triple-bogey six on the 17th, the world No 3 would be much closer, but he is not fretting. McIlroy looks almost assured of topping the Race to Dubai and so winning his sixth order of merit title.

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