DUBAI (The Thursday Times) — Rory McIlroy shared the lead with Tyrrell Hatton at the halfway stage of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Friday, keeping alive his bid for a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy followed his opening 69 with a 70 on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates to reach five under par, level with his Ryder Cup teammate Hatton, who carded a 69 with five birdies and two bogeys. The two will play together in Saturday’s final pairing.
The Northern Irishman was four under for the day after 11 holes and briefly held the outright lead, but bogeys at the 12th, 16th, and 17th pulled him back before he birdied the last.
Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, the overnight leader, shot 73 to fall one shot back at four under, alongside Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan.
An eighth title in sight
Victory this week would guarantee McIlroy an eighth Race to Dubai title, the season-long crown of the DP World Tour, equalling Colin Montgomerie’s record. Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, who leads the standings after three wins this season, is four shots off the pace at one under after birdieing his last two holes for a 71.
“I want to win the tournament,” McIlroy said. “If I go and I win the first trophy on Sunday, then the second trophy should take care of itself.”
McIlroy has won the DP World Tour Championship three times and lost a play-off to Matt Fitzpatrick at the event last year. He said the wind and the course set-up had made scoring far harder than usual. “I’ve been coming to this golf course for 17 years, and this is the toughest I think it’s ever played,” he said.
Jon Rahm is two under, while Tommy Fleetwood is three over. Patrick Reed, who had been trying to become only the second American to win the Race to Dubai, slumped to a five-over 77.
The third round is on Saturday, and the tournament ends on Sunday.
