Nov 16,2024
Rory McIlroy is one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the DP World Tour Championship after carding a three-under 69, while Shane Lowry is also within striking distance of the summit.
McIlroy and England's Tyrrell Hatton, who was paired with the Co Down man on Friday, are tied for second place with both on eight-under.
Antoine Rozner of France moved to the top of the leaderboard after a bogey-free 65 on the Jumeirah Golf Estates course.
Tom McKibbin is also within the top 20 going into Saturday's third round.
LEADERBOARD
Having shared the overnight lead with Hatton, McIlroy made a storming start to his second round, birdying three of his first four holes.
After picking up another shot on seven, the world number three lost momentum with bogeys on eight and ten, but finished on a more positive note with a birdie on 18 that keeps him right in contention.
"A little disappointed that I didn't kick on after such a great start, four under through seven, feeling like I was in total control of what I was doing," he said.
"Then I just started to miss a few fairways around the turn. When you start missing fairways, the way the course is set up this week, you're going to start to struggle.
"So I made two bogeys in the next three holes. Steadied the ship a little bit but felt like I let a couple of chances slip by on 14 and 15. But played the last three holes well.
"It was nice to finish with a birdie and at least shoot something in the 60s after the start that I had.
"My comfort level around this place, it's always been there ever since the first time we played back in 2009. But yeah, the course is set up different.
"I need to do a better job of hitting the fairways. I did for the first few holes, and then I let it slip a bit. I started to miss the driver a bit left in the middle of the round.
"If I can hit fairways out here, then the greens are very receptive and you give yourself plenty of chances. I'm so comfortable around this place and I've had success before. So I'm liking my chances going into the weekend."
McIlroy is seeking his third successive Race to Dubai victory and can only be unseated should his closest pursuer Thriston Lawrence win the tournament with McIlroy himself failing to place inside the top 11.
Lawrence is currently tied for 34th on level par after a 71.
Meanwhile, Lowry is tied for fifth, two shots behind McIlroy thanks to a much-improved round. Having carded a 71 on Thursday, a 67 featuring seven birdies and only blemished by back-to-back bogeys on eight and nine lifted the Offaly man up to six-under overall.
McKibbin is three shots further back after the Antrim native's 70. He birdied two, four, seven and eight on the front nine but bogeyed six and nine. A quieter back nine saw the Holywood GC member bogey 12 but recover to birdie 15.
Additional reporting: PA
