PULKKANEN RIDES ACE - AND HAT TIP - INTO LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS RD. 2

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – A perfect tee shot – a slight draw with an eight-iron from 195 yards that pitched six feet from the flag and rolled in for a hole-in-one – was followed by a little tip of the hat.

That hat, though, is more unique in golf than a hole-in-one. It’s a trilby – the trademark preference of Finland’s Tapio Pulkkanen.

The 33-year-old from the city of Kotka was having an ordinary outing in the opening round of LIV Golf Promotions at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, but played his last seven holes to five-under, including the ace on the par-3 15th hole and three birdies. That helped him close on five-under 67, comfortably booking his place in Saturday’s second round.

“I played well, and that ace on the 15th was obviously the highlight. I had a couple of birdies in the first 11 holes, but I also had two three-putt bogeys, so it was good to play a hole where I did not need my putter at all,” said Pulkkanen, Order of Merit winner of the 2017 Challenge Tour.

“There was a slight wind behind me and I thought the 8-iron might just be a bit too much, but my caddie insisted it was a perfect number for an 8. I hit a good draw, holding it against the wind and it was a good shot. I thought it was a bit left, but it must have jumped right, or the grain took it.

“There is a slight mound in front of the green and I could not see the ball go in. I only realized after one of the scorers walking with us told me that it had gone into the hole.”

Pulkkanen is making it a habit of scoring aces. This was the seventh of his golfing career, having made his first one as a 12-year-old.

“I think I have made one in Madeira Island Open, one at Volvo China Open and one on the Challenge Tour before this. There are now too many of them to remember, but this one came after a gap of five years, so it feels good,” said the Finn, who opened a tab at the clubhouse bar and treated everyone to a beer after the round.

“I feel like my putting is pretty good, but I could not get a hang of the greens in the beginning. But once I made a birdie on the 12th, it was a cruise after that.

“This is a good start and I think I need a similar round tomorrow to get into the last day. With only three spots, you need something special to happen.”

Pulkkanen is among 29 players who advanced to the weekend. They will be joined by 13 players who have already received a bye to the second round on Saturday, and the top-20 make it to the 36-hole shootout on Sunday.