Rory McIlroy makes three birdies on the back nine to take a two-shot lead into the weekend at Dubai Invitational
World number two Rory McIlroy started this week’s Dubai Invitational with a sensational round of 62. McIlroy played with 2023 BMW PGA Championship winner Ryan Fox for a second day in a row. The Northern Irishman opened with two pars before taking advantage of 336 yard par four third hole by getting up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie. McIlroy made short work of par five fourth with a long drive, a remarkable five iron and settled for a tap in birdie. McIlroy kept the momentum in his favour as he achieved an up and down for par at the par three fifth.
McIlroy played the first seven holes of his second round in two under. The eight hole at Dubai Creek is a 214 yard par three and McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the left which found the water. The Northern Irishman went to the drop zone and had 134 yards for his third shot but made a mistake as he found the water again. McIlroy ended up finishing the eight hole with a quadruple bogey. “A couple miscues on the 8th hole”, said McIlroy. McIlroy shot a front nine of 37.
The 10th at Dubai Creek is a par five and McIlroy was just off the green in two shots after a 5 wood from 283 yards. McIlroy’s chip at the 10th came up short but rolled in a short-range birdie putt to reach eight under. “I had a chance to bounce back on 9 that I missed but 10 was big”, said McIlroy. McIlroy achieved a par at both the 11th and 12th before hitting a 342 yard drive at the par five 13th hole. McIlroy hit a six iron from 210 yards for his second shot at the 13th which found the green and returned to nine under after an excellent two putt.
McIlroy had another opportunity for birdie after hitting a great iron shot at 194 yard par three 14th but unfortunately missed the putt. At the 15th hole on day one McIlroy hit driver whereas on day two he hit 3 wood off the tee and had 145 yards for his second shot. McIlroy’s second shot at the 15th ended up four feet from the hole but this was one of the first short putts that he missed over the two days at Dubai Creek. The conditions became very breezy as McIlroy was playing the back nine. “The condition were getting a little trickier. Wind was up. Greens were firm”, said McIlroy.
The 16th at Dubai Creek is a 202 yard par three and McIlroy found the green after hitting an excellent seven iron. McIlroy reached 10 under after rolling in his birdie putt at the 16th hole. The four-time major winner had 129 yards for his second shot at the 17th but unfortunately hit an average wedge shot which resulted in having a 50 foot birdie putt. McIlroy managed a two-putt par at the 17th hole. McIlroy found the sand with his tee shot at the 18th and had 151 yards for his second shot. World number two was successful in reaching the green from the bunker and finished with a two-putt par. McIlroy finished his second round on 10 under to shoot a 70. “So it's nice to go into the weekend still with the lead”, said McIlroy.
McIlroy has a two-shot lead after day two and his nearest challengers are Yannik Paul and Jeff Winther on eight under. Tommy Fleetwood is on seven under and only three behind McIlroy. Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin is also playing in Dubai Invitational and is in a tie for 20th on two under. McIlroy’s one under round has made the leaderboard extremely tight going into the weekend as 15 players are in five shots of the lead.
It was announced this morning that Keith Pelley will step down as DP World Tour boss in April to take up a role with Maple Leaf Sports in Canada. “I think the job he's going to is one that he's probably wanted for a long, long time, being from Canada, especially Toronto and be able to run two major sports in Toronto, the hockey team and the basketball team”, said McIlroy. Guy Kinnings will take over from Pelley as new DP World Tour boss. “Guy has been around the Tour in different capacities for quite a while, especially with everything going on in the game, Guy has been in pretty much all those rooms the last couple years”, said McIlroy.