Dubai: Half the field didn’t finish their second round at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Friday because early morning fog had led to a two hour, 50 minute delay in tee-off times.
This means the likes of Alex Bjork and Rory McIlroy — who were a respective 11 and 10 under mid-way through their second rounds before bad light stopped play — will now have to return early on Saturday morning to complete their second rounds before starting their third.
Bjork was four under for the day through 12 (which actually the third as he started on hole 10). He started with two birdies and a bogey before birdieing his ninth, then birdied his 11th and 12th before the claxon called. This added to an opening seven under 65 left him 11 under for the tournament, tied for third.
Likewise, McIlroy was three under through 11 with three early birdies and a bogey on eight before birdieing just after the turn; added to an opening seven under 65, it left him 10 under overall, tied for fifth.
Others high up the leaderboard who had their second rounds cut short due to light were; Lasse Jensen, Chris Paisley and David Horsey, all on nine under tied for eighth. Jensen and Paisley were both two under for the day with five holes still left to play, while Horsey had 11 holes still to play and was level par for the day.
The cut should have been made on Friday night but due to the fog and subsequent light delay, those who will go on to make the final two rounds of the tournament will only be confirmed after the end of the second round’s play on Saturday morning.
