Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled in a dramatic second round at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson, however, starred to take a one-shot lead into the weekend, shooting a seven-under 65 which finished with a remarkable – and hugely fortunate – eagle on the 18th.
Ferguson, the world No 141 who has won three times on the DP World Tour, overhit his second shot into the par-five final hole but saw the ball rebound off a big advertising board and back onto the green, settling five feet from the pin.
He holed the eagle putt to move to 12 under for the week.
David Hillier of New Zealand also shot 65 to be in second place and the only player within three strokes of Ferguson. LIV Golf’s Tyrrell Hatton (65) was in a three-way tie for third place on eight under.
But Hatton’s LIV colleague Rahm struggled badly to a round of 77 and finished two shots away from the level-par cut line. He was joined in an early finish to the event by world No 8 Hovland, who followed up an opening round of 75 with a 73 to finish at four over.
“I wouldn’t say that there was anything went well,” said Rahm. “No part of the game today was even average to what I would like to feel.”
McIlroy falls further back – but can he repeat 2024 comeback?
McIlroy did secure his place for the final two rounds but he will start Saturday nine shots adrift of Ferguson and with it all to do if he is to win the event for the third year in succession and fourth time overall.
Although he finished with a birdie four at the last, having earlier shown his prowess with the driver by hitting through the green at the 356-yard par-four second, McIlroy admitted he felt “a little frustrated” at the end of his round amid the “tricky” conditions of changing winds and thick rough.
However, McIlroy was buoyed when reminded he was 10 strokes behind after 36 holes last year before going on to successfully defend his title.
“I’d say the winning score isn’t going to be much above what the leader is right now, especially the way the course is going to play over the weekend, and the way especially this golf course has played over the weekend the last couple years,” he added.
“The greens will continue to get a little bit firmer, and will put such a premium on putting it in the fairway and hitting a lot of greens. If I can focus on that over the weekend, get a couple of putts to drop, I think I’ve still got a decent chance.”
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Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will have extended coverage from all four rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with Featured Groups live from 4am each morning on Sky Sports Golf and bringing bonus action ahead of the main action.
Full coverage continues at 7am over the weekend, with all four rounds of the PGA Tour’s American Express and the Latin America Amateur Championship also live on Sky Sports. Stream the DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.
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