Dubai: World No 6 Rory McIlroy maintained his Omega Dubai Desert Classic lead by a single stroke at 11 under par after shooting a 70 on day two of the $2.5 million tournament at Emirates Golf Club on Friday.
The 24-year-old Northern Irishman shot 63 on Thursday and had a two-stroke cushion heading into the second day. But he failed to build on that lead after starting with a bogey and three birdies on his outward nine, before returning with two birdies and two bogies.
America’s Brooks Koepke and England’s Danny Willett attempted to capitalise on the Ulsterman’s error-laden round, both shooting 65s to rocket up the leaderboard.
Koepke, 23, shot 69 on day one but rose 15 places outright second place and within a stroke of McIlroy after an bogey-free round that included four outward birdies and three consecutive birdies on the back nine.
Willett, meanwhile, jumped up 49 positions in the standings to a tie for third, three shots off the lead. The 26-year-old made up for a first-day 71 with six birdies on his front nine and two either side of a bogey on his return.
“It was a round that could have been much better,” said McIlroy, who won his first professional tournament at this event in 2009. “I still have to realise that I’m in the middle of this tournament. Even though it wasn’t quite as good as yesterday [Thursday], hopefully that was my bad round out of the way and I can shoot a couple of better ones over the weekend.
“I’ve been in this position before and I’ve gone on to win. I’ve led from the front quite well in tournaments that I’ve won. And I still feel like I’m playing well. I know the course just as well as anyone does, so I’m expecting to go out there and shoot two good scores over the weekend and hopefully lift the trophy.”
Willett, who shares third position with Ireland’s Damien McGrane (66, 70) and France’s Julien Quesne (66, 70), said he was unfazed by his tee time despite morning rounds tending to be more profitable.
“The amount of lower scores in the morning were higher than the afternoon just because the greens are a little bit softer and the wind is a little bit less,” he said. “But, even in the afternoon, someone is going to go out and shoot a number.
“I’m playing really nicely, the consistency is still there from the last few weeks. We played lovely so we are up there again for the weekend.”
