Skip to content A closing birdie under stiff desert wind kept Rory McIlroy tied atop the DP World Tour Championship leaderboard on Friday afternoon.
The world number two posted a two-under 70 to match England’s Tyrrell Hatton at five under. That keeps the Northern Irishman firmly on track to equal Colin Montgomerie’s all-time mark of eight season-long crowns.
Also read: Race to Dubai: McIlroy fires 69 to chase Montgomerie record
McIlroy is hunting his fourth DP World Tour Championship trophy alongside a fifth consecutive season-ending crown. Victory this week would guarantee that historic achievement.
How McIlroy recovered at the DP World Tour Championship
McIlroy looked ready to pull away from the chasing pack early in his second round. He carded four birdies across his first 10 holes to claim the solo lead.
Then trouble arrived on the back nine. A bogey five on the 12th hole halted his charge. He then dropped further shots on the 16th and 17th holes.
Yet the six-time major winner answered when the pressure mounted. He rolled in a birdie on the 18th for the second straight day to salvage a 70.
McIlroy noted that conditions made scoring far tougher than usual on the Earth Course.
“I’ve been coming back to the golf course for 15 plus years, and you just associate this course with pretty low scoring.”
He explained that players must rethink their targets when the layout plays this firm and breezy. “Anything in the 60s, it seems, this week is a good score,” McIlroy said. He added that lighter weekend winds might allow scoring to improve.
Hatton handles the wind to share the summit
Hatton matched McIlroy on five under after carding a composed three-under 69. The world number 23 began his round with a clean front nine that included three birdies.
His momentum slowed slightly with a bogey at the 10th hole. He responded quickly at the 15th, knocking his approach to two feet for a tap-in birdie.
After finding the greenside bunker on the par-three 17th and taking bogey, Hatton bounced back. He matched McIlroy with a birdie on the 18th to secure his place in the final pairing.
The Englishman arrived in Dubai in good form after finishing second behind Jon Rahm in Abu Dhabi last week. While he cannot win the points crown, he seeks a ninth DP World Tour title and his first since leaving LIV Golf.
Hatton admitted the shifting breeze caused constant headaches throughout his round. The wind moved around enough to make club selection difficult, especially as gusts strengthened late in the day.
DP World Tour Championship stakes in the Race to Dubai
The battle for the DP World Tour Championship also dictates the final outcome of the season. McIlroy holds the advantage, but the pursuers are still within reach.
Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra remains in the fight at one under par. The Spaniard entered the week atop the standings after winning three times earlier this season.
Chacarra looked in danger of falling away during his second round. Instead, he birdied his final two holes to stay four shots behind the co-leaders.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm carded a 71 to sit at two under alongside South Africa’s Jayden Schaper. Schaper delivered one of the best rounds on Friday, posting a four-under 68 to move into contention. Both Rahm and Schaper can still clinch the Race to Dubai if weekend results go their way.
Who else remains in the hunt before moving day
The DP World Tour Championship now heads into the weekend with several contenders lurking behind the leaders. Joost Luiten and Kristoffer Reitan sit just one shot back at four under par. Luiten carded a 73 after leading overnight, while Norway’s Reitan matched him with steady play.
Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg, Germany’s Freddy Schott and France’s Victor Perez share fifth place at three under. Spain’s David Puig sits alongside Rahm and Schaper at two under par.
Further down the board, Adam Scott and Scotland’s Calum Hill sit at level par. Tommy Fleetwood finished Friday at three over, while Aaron Rai struggled to a six-over total.
Patrick Reed suffered a difficult day, following an opening 75 with a 77. At eight over, Reed saw his hopes of lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy as an American slip away.
McIlroy and Hatton tee off together in Saturday’s final pairing at 08:40 GMT with 36 holes left to decide the title.
Source: BBC Sport
