De Leo Leads Turkish Airlines Open After No Practice Round

There's something beautifully audacious about showing up to a professional golf tournament without having walked the course, then promptly shooting yourself to the top of the leaderboard. That's precisely what Gregorio de Leo accomplished through two rounds at the Turkish Airlines Open, where the Italian now holds a one-shot advantage at 7-under par.

A Partnership Forged Across Hemispheres

De Leo arrived at National GC on Wednesday afternoon, leaving him no time for a practice round—a scenario that would unsettle most professionals at this level. But the Italian leaned heavily on his caddie, Adam Drummond, and the results speak for themselves.

"I didn't know how the course was playing so I am really thankful of my caddie Adam," De Leo said after posting a second-round 68 featuring five birdies against a single bogey. "He really helped me out yesterday and today. It worked out."

The partnership between player and caddie stretches back to Australia, now five months strong. "We started out in Australia, so it'd been five months and we're a good team," De Leo explained. "He was driving me around the course because I didn't know anything about it, especially yesterday."

By Friday, De Leo had found his bearings, though he remained cautious about shot selection. The trust between bag man and ball striker proved decisive—a reminder that professional golf is often a team sport disguised as an individual pursuit.

The Road Back to Playing Privileges

De Leo's presence at National GC carries extra weight. Having regained his playing privileges through Qualifying School, he's chasing his first DP World Tour victory with the hunger of someone who knows how quickly opportunities can vanish.

"It definitely felt very good," he said of his round. "I played very well. I was solid off the tee, and my putting really helped me today. I think I holed a lot of feet of putts so I am very happy."

That combination—driving accuracy and a hot putter—tends to translate across any course layout, even one you've never seen before Wednesday.

Chasing the Leader

Spain's Alejandro del Rey sits one shot back at 6-under after a workmanlike 71 that included three birdies against two bogeys. The Spaniard acknowledged the course's teeth on Friday.

"With the set-up today, it was a tough course," del Rey noted. "It wasn't very gettable and probably the scores show that. Signing for an under par round without feeling my best is pretty cool."

Joining del Rey in that tie for second are England's Sam Bairstow, Sweden's Jens Dantorp, and New Zealand's Kazuma Kobori—all at 6-under. Bairstow's round was the most eventful of the quartet: six birdies offset by two bogeys and a double at the par-4 13th, a hole that showed its fangs throughout the day.

Overnight leader Mikael Lindberg slipped to 6th place after a 1-over 73, his round undone by three bogeys against just two birdies. Defending champion Martin Couvra barely survived the cut, his title defense featuring double bogeys at both the par-3 2nd and that troublesome par-4 13th.

Leaderboard After Round Two

1. Gregorio de Leo (ITA): -7 (69-68)
T2. Alejandro del Rey (ESP): -6 (67-71)
T2. Kazuma Kobori (NZL): -6 (70-68)
T2. Jens Dantorp (SWE): -6 (68-70)
T2. Sam Bairstow (ENG): -6 (68-70)
6. Mikael Lindberg (SWE): -5 (66-73)

Takeaway

Weekend golf at National GC promises drama with a compressed leaderboard and a leader who's proven he can perform under unconventional circumstances. De Leo's trust in his caddie and his ability to adapt without course knowledge suggests a player with the mental fortitude to handle pressure. Whether that translates to a maiden DP World Tour victory remains to be seen, but the Italian has positioned himself perfectly for the push.