Dubai: World No.88 Brooks Koepka shot an impressive 65 on day two of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic to go 10 under par for the tournament, one stroke behind leader Rory McIlroy, at Emirates Golf Club on Friday.
The 23-year-old American jumped 15 places up the leaderboard to second from his first round score of 69 and is now an unlikely contender for the tournament title.
Having turned professional in 2012, Koepka won four European Challenge Tour events last season to earn his full card, and he sees little difference between his former successes and possibly denying two-time Grand Slam winner McIlroy on the big stage.
“Winning’s winning,” he said. “I’ve been able to do it, so hopefully I can get it done this week.”
Of his bogey-free second round of four outward birdies and three consecutive birdies on the back nine, Koepka added: “I putted well today [Friday]. Yesterday [Thursday] I didn’t putt very good, but today it came through.
“I’ve been ball striking really well and chipped — everything’s going good, so I can’t complain.”
With the back nine of the par-72 7,344-yard Majlis Course considered more profitable, Koepka said: “It was nice to be able to go out on the back nine first and get a couple of birdies going and getting it rolling for the front nine.”
McIlroy, meanwhile, saw his two-stroke first round lead halved after following up a first day 63 with a shaky 70. The Northern Irishman started with a bogey and three birdies before cancelling out two birdies with two bogeys on his return.
At one stage, McIlroy and Koepka were level leaders at ten under par, but McIlroy birdied the 18th to open up a fragile lead going in to the third day.
Meanwhile, three-time Desert Classic champion and course record holder Ernie Els was one of seven former winners to miss the cut here on Friday night.
With the cut made at one under par, Els’ level par (74, 70) didn’t make the grade. The four-time Major winner will be taking an early flight out of town along with Wayne Westner, David Howell, Robert Jan Derksen, Mark O’Meara, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal.
