A birdie at the last has helped rescue Rory McIlroy’s pride heading to the weekend rounds of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy’s closing hole birdie, and after back-to-back bogeys at 16 and17, helped restore some confidence in his quest to not only capture the tournament itself but also join Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie with eight Race to Dubai money-list titles.
McIlroy had been two shots clear of the field after just 10 holes before dropping three shots from 12 to 17 before a closing hole birdie in his round of a two-under 70 for a five-under tally and be tied with former LIV star Tyrrell Hatton who had posted a 69 for his five-under total.
IF I WIN THE FIRST TROPHY, THE SECOND SHOULD TAKE CARE OF ITSELF …
Declares @McIlroyRory sharing the lead at 5-under thanks to a closing hole birdie and tied at the top with @TyrrellHatton
Rors saying: “I want to capture this tournament. I’ve also won four times down the road at the Emirate Club, so it would be nice to also win four times here.
“So, yes I want to win this tournament and if I can win this tournament that’s all I can do. It doesn’t really matter what any of the other guys can do. If they play well enough but I know when I win first trophy on Sunday then the second trophy should take care of itself.”
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“I want to capture this tournament,” McIlroy said. “I’ve also won four times down the road at the Emirate Club, so it would be nice to also win four times here.
“So, yes I want to win this tournament and if I can win this tournament that’s all I can do. It doesn’t really matter what any of the other guys can do. If they play well enough but I know when I win first trophy on Sunday then the second trophy should take care of itself.”
Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan and Dutchman Joost Luiten share third place at four-under.
Leading Race To Dubai money-list earner Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra birdied his closing two holes to be just four shots back of the lead.
“I can control what I can control. If Rory comes here and wins the tournament, he’s a deserved champion. There’s nothing I can really do,” said the champion Spaniard.
“I’m going to try to win the tournament. As of right now, I’m five shots back. The wind is kind of pumping. It’s not easy out there.
“So, like I said, hopefully they don’t go really, really low. And, I mean, five shots on a weekend, it’s not a lot.”
Just 14 players in the 50 field are under par for the two rounds.
