Rory McIlroy says he likes his chances of ending the 2024 season with a win at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, but has been warned to “look out” for a frustrated Tyrell Hutton who is not yet at his best.
Paired in the final group on Friday, McIlroy and Hutton both shot three-under 69s at Jumeriah Golf Estates to move into joint second place at eight under, one shot ahead of surprise leader Antoine Rosner after the Frenchman opened with a 64.
The Ryder Cup teammates got to those points in very different fashion, however, with McIlroy racing to an early two-shot lead after four birdies in seven holes, then slipping back, Hutton found himself on the boil for much of his round but recovered. back nine on the ground.
McIlroy, described as looking “ominous”. Sky Sports Golf’s Paul McGinley feels he is still well prepared for the weekend, while the Dubai race title looks set to be sealed with the only other contender Triston Lawrence one down.
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Watch Rory McIlroy’s second-round history at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
“I got off to a great start, four through seven, and I felt like I was in full control of what I was doing,” said McIlroy, who has three wins this year and has won twice in Dubai before.
“And then I just started missing some fairways around the turn. Once you start missing the fairways the way the course is set up this week, you’re going to struggle.
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“So I made two bogeys on the next three holes, I steadied the boat a little bit but I felt I let a couple of opportunities slip on 14 and 15 but I played the last three holes well. It was nice to finish. a birdie and at least shoot something in the 60s after the start I had.
“But I’m so comfortable in this place and I’ve had success in the past. So I like my chances before the end of the weekend.”
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Rory McIlroy showed his frustration after a succession of poor shots led to bogeys in his second round of the DP World Tour Championship.
Hutton, meanwhile, didn’t make a birdie until the sixth hole, but from there made no bogeys en route to a 69 to follow up a first-round 67 when he too was frustrated with his swing.
“Honestly, things like yesterday in terms of not feeling very comfortable,” he said afterward. “Just every shot I think was a little bit of a struggle.
“Three down is a pretty decent point all things considered, but naturally you want to be better, so I think it’s fair to say I’m pretty disappointed.
“On the positive side of two days where I don’t feel like I played the golf I’m capable of, I’m one shot off the lead going into the weekend.
“Hopefully I can find something and hit it a little bit better and that will make this weekend more interesting for me, but I’m going to go out there and give it my best for the next few days and just hope I’m sure something will click.”
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Tyrell Hutton sinks a huge birdie on the par-sixth hole during his second round of the DP World Tour Championship.
Rozner is aiming for Dubai glory and a PGA Tour card
McIlroy and Hutton are two on the list of star contenders for Dubai, with Joaquin Niemann one shot back, with Shane Lowry, Rasmus Hodggaard and Tommy Fleetwood also in the top 10.
But the frontrunner is Rosner, who is playing for something else this weekend: next year’s PGA Tour card, which he needs only a seventh minimum to clinch.
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Highlights from the first round of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estate, Dubai.
“I need a really good weekend for that,” Rosner said after his second-round 64. “I’ll try to focus on having two good days and see how it goes at the end.
“I think if I can win it on Sunday or get one of those cards, yeah, that would be great.
“I’ve been playing really well the last few months and yeah, let’s go. Let’s take advantage of it.”
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Sky Sports’ Paul McGinley.
“It wasn’t vintage McIlroy. We thought at one stage, when the four birdies in seven holes started to come out, that he was going to get away in the daylight a bit and put some distance between himself and the field, but it happened. will not happen.
“He went off the rails there, but good finish. We haven’t seen the best of McIlroy over the past two days, but he’s one shot off the lead and looking ominous.
“But again, we know he’s got a lot more. He is a hell of a player and not fully involved in his game today. he’s certainly a guy who’s going to enjoy the fight at the weekend.”
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Paul Waring was left confused after a fan shouted at him on his landing during his second round of the DP World Tour Championship.
Sky Sports’ Andrew Coltart.
“Tyrrell said earlier today that it was one of the worst warmups he’s had in 25 years, he just said he was hitting it terribly. To go out there and hit a 69 around a golf course like that, with Rory in the company. McIlroy has a lot to say about Tyrrell Hutton.
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“You can’t tell how good a golfer is by his good rounds. You can tell how good a golfer is by his bad rounds. And if Tyrell Hutton is one stroke off the lead, not playing well, playing poorly, then the world. for golf should be considered.
“Rosner is capable here, but all the cards have to hit him. He came here with a lot of confidence, but he’s not a top 10 player right now, and his driver does that. stray from time to time.
“It’s still a really big weekend ahead for Rory McIlroy in terms of what he can achieve. He is now likely to join Seve Ballesteros in his sixth race to Dubai with the title. He would love to have both of those titles on it. On Green Sunday evening, Rosner is the man in front at the moment.
“I think it’s going to be a tough fight over the weekend.
“Neiman is in great shape. McIlroy is there, but he’s worried about his golf swing. Hutton, I think he’s recovered from an inauspicious day. Fleetwood are still in it and you can’t rule out the likes of Rasmus Hodggaard and maybe even. Jesper Svensson could even pull something out of the bag.
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