Day 2 review of Dubai Desert Classic

The big morning three ball was Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young, Ryan Fox. Also playing early was Rasmus Hojgaard, Thorbjorn Olesen, Tyrrell Hatton. Both groups started their second round on the 10th hole. Fleetwood advanced to four under after a birdie at his opening hole. Fleetwood hit a sensational wood shot to four feet at the 13th hole and advanced to six under with an eagle. 2024 Dubai Invitational winner made a massive error as his second shot at the 16th came up short and missed a seven foot par putt.

Fleetwood failed to take advantage of good birdie opportunities on his eight, ninth and 10th hole. Young reached seven under after two birdies in a row at the 12th and 13th hole. The American played exceptional wedge shots at both the 16th and 17th hole to reach nine under. Young played his front nine in five under after a two putt for birdie at the 18th hole. Throughout the two rounds Young has played holes 16, 17 and 18 in seven under.

Young rolled in a fantastic birdie putt at his 10th hole. Young’s tee shot at the reachable par four second took a bounce over the green but managed to escape with a par. On the same hole Fleetwood also went over the green but was unsuccessful in achieving a par. Young reached 12 under after an up and down for birdie at the par five third hole. The American made three birdies in four holes at the par three fourth to reach 13 under.

Young hit an extraordinary tee shot at the par three seventh and rolled in his birdie putt to reach 14 under. On the same par three Fleetwood held a 50 foot birdie putt to return to four under. Fleetwood made it two birdies in a row at his 17th hole. Young’s second shot found the water at the ninth hole. Young achieved an excellent bogey to shoot a second round of 65.

Young is the halfway leader on 13 under. Fleetwood shot a second round of 70 and is on five under. Fox started with three birdies in a row before a fantastic par save at the 13th hole. Fox managed to keep a bogey off his card to shoot a round of five under. Fox goes into round three on two under.

Rasmus Hojgaard lost a ball at the par five 10th which resulted in an opening bogey. The Danish star bounced back immediately with a birdie on the par three 11th hole. Hojgaard played his front nine in two under after birdies at both the 13th and 17th hole. It was an up and down day for Hojgaard as he started his back nine with a bogey then followed it up with birdies at his 12th & 13th hole. Hojgaard returned to eight under after a remarkable birdie at the par three seventh hole. Hojgaard finished with a bogey to go into round three on seven under.

Olesen’s highlight on his front nine was an exceptional eagle at the par five 13th hole. Olesen played his front nine in two under. Olesen missed a par putt at his 10th hole but showed resilience as he followed it up with two birdies in a row to reach seven under. Olesen made bogeys at the difficult sixth and eight hole before finishing with a birdie. Olesen shot a third round of 70 and is on six under.

Hatton played his first five holes in three under. Hatton made a crucial up and down at his eight hole to shoot a front nine of three under. The Englishman returned to one under after a birdie at his 11th hole. Hatton’s final birdie was at the par three seventh and goes into day three on two under.

Andy Sullivan went into day two tied for the lead on five under. Sullivan started his round with birdies at the first & third hole and shot a front nine of 30. The 13th hole was Sullivan’s only birdie on the back nine. Sullivan dropped a shot at the 15th hole but finished on 10 under. The highlight of the morning action was a Hole In One by Luke Donald at the par three fourth.

The big afternoon games were Rory McIlroy, Nicolai Hojgaard, Adam Scott and Brian Harman, Adrian Meronk, Daniel Bradbury. McIlroy started with a birdie at the par four second and reach three under after seven holes. McIlroy finished the front nine with two disappointing bogeys at the eighth and ninth hole.

McIlroy started the back nine with a birdie then followed it up with a bogey at11th hole. The four-time major winner made birdies at the 13th and 18th hole to finish on three under. McIlroy has made 10 birdies and seven bogeys over two rounds. McIlroy goes into day three 10 shots behind the leader but is capable of going low on Saturday.

Nicolai Hojgaard reached seven under after birdies at the fifth and seventh hole. The Danish star was all over the place at the eight hole which resulted in a bogey. Hojgaard bounced back quickly with birdies at the ninth and 10th hole. 2023 DP World Tour Championship winner dropped two shots at the 12th and 14th hole. Hojgaard’s tee shot at the drivable par four 17th came to rest in the rough and incredibly put his second shot in the hole for eagle. Hojgaard is on seven under and six behind the lead.

Scott started with an up and down for par before a birdie at the fifth hole. Scott played 11 holes in one under before a bogey at the 12th hole. The Australian finished in style with a birdie on the 18th hole. Scott finished on four under.

Meronk started with three one putts to reach six under. The Polish star has a pep in his step after been named 2023 DP World Tour Player Of The Year as Meronk shot a front nine of three under. Meronk made his fourth birdie after getting up and down from 117 yards at the par five 10th. The Polish star hit an incredible third shot from 133 yards at the 12th hole to remain on eight under. Meronk’s wedge game was outstanding as he got up and down from 118 yards for birdie at 13th hole. Meronk made his sixth birdie of the round at 17th hole and finished on 10 under.

Harman started with an opening bogey before making birdies at the third and fifth hole. Harman finished the front nine with two bogeys at the eight and ninth hole. 2023 The Open champion started the back nine brillantly with two birdies and a eagle at 13th hole. Harman made unforced errors with bogeys at the 14th and 16th hole. Harman goes into day three on two under.

Haotong LI was tied for the lead on five under after day one. Li made three bogeys on his back nine. Li goes into day three on six under. Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin is on two under.