Rory McIlroy Tops Leaderboard At Duabi Desert Classic
By Les Bailey
Sep 27, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; European golfer Rory McIlroy hits a shot out of the 16th fairway during day two of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort – PGA Centenary Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Rory McIlroy rode his driver, and an eight under par 64 in the second round, to grab the 36-hole lead at the 2015 Dubai Desert Classic. The world’s number one golfer went bogey-free on Friday, in pristine conditions at the Emirate Golf Course in Dubai, and birdied the final three holes to take the halfway lead.
Golf is easy at a golf course with as many dog-legs as the Emirates, when you can count on a drive that’s well over 300 yards, and have the confidence that it will hit the middle of the fairway most of the time.
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McIlroy drove the 351 yard second hole, and nearly drove the 350 yard 17th, but if you look back at his round, it was the putter that was working on Friday at the final stop on the European Tour’s Desert Swing.
“I didn’t play my best but I definitely improved”
After finishing the last thee tournaments as the bridesmaid, I think the 25 year-old phenom is ready to win again. McIlroy has went 1-1-1-2-2-2 in his last six tournaments with two being major championships, and the other, a World Golf Championship.
"“I didn’t play my best but I definitely improved from tee to green out there and was able to make some putts. It was a great round and I’m going to need something similar over the next couple of days to stay in the position that I’m in.“I’m in a great position, obviously. But there are so many people that are close to the lead and it’s so bunched up there."
Lost in the highlights was a nice second round for, Marc Warren. The Scot, who came up on the short end, behind Branden Grace a couple of weeks ago, in Abu Dhabi, was the clubhouse leader at 13 under par, before Rory birdied in.
Warren started his day on the back-nine, and birdied two of the last three holes, but a couple of bogeys on the day kept him out of the lead. He will get a chance to see Rory and his driver up close, and personal on Saturday, as the world-class event moves into moving day.
In his first start since the Hero Challenge, McIlroy’s compatriot, Graeme McDowell carded a nice seven under par 65 on Friday, and joins Brit, Seve Benson in third place. The pair is two back.
The more interesting group on the leader board are the five-some at eleven under par. All are well within position if Rory starts to miss fairways, and putts on the weekend to win this thing.
Race To Dubai points leader, Danny Willett, first-round leader, Bernd Wiesberger, two-time defending champ, Stephen Gallacher, former world number one, Lee Westwood, and South African Open winner, Andy Sullivan.
Brit, Danny Willett had the best round in this group on Friday, carding a six under score, and moving up eight spots on the board. Willett started his day on the back nine, and put a lot of birdies on his card, but a bogey at eight, took a little of the wind out of his sails.
The best round of the day was put up by Morton Orem Madsen. The young Dane threw a 9 under par 63 at the leaderboard, one better than the leader. Madsen played bogey-free golf on the day, and made eagle at the tenth hole. He moved up 44 spot on the board, into a tie with three others at 10 under par.
The world number two player, Henrik Stenson, has struggled here in the early going, but put together a nice round on Friday that moved him up the leaderboard. He followed an opening round 70, with a six under 66 effort on Friday.
The big Swede is probably out of the picture for a second win in the Desert Classic, but is at eight under par in a group tied for 18th place.
The Dubai Desert Classic is shaping up to be a nice shootout unless Rory shoots another low round. If he stumbles at all, on Saturday, there are some good players ready to keep him from duplicating his 2009 win. His first win as a professional.
Source and Quotes Courtesy EuropeanTour.com