Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland both missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle it out for the weekend as the major players battled it out in a dramatic second round at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson, however, starred to take a one-shot lead for the weekend, shooting a seven-under 65 that ended with a remarkable – and extremely lucky – eagle on the 18th.
Ferguson, world number 141 and a three-time winner on the DP World Tour, hit his second shot on the par-5 final hole but saw the ball bounce off the big scoreboard and back onto the green, landing five feet from needles.
He had an eagle's way to move to 12 under for the week.
New Zealand's David Hillier also shot 65 to be second and the only player within three shots of Ferguson. LIV Golf's Tyrrell Hatton (65) was in a three-way tie for third at eight under after a round that featured eight birdies.
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Watch highlights from day two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as McIlroy battles to make an impression at the top of the leaderboard with Scotland's Ewen Ferguson one stroke ahead
But Hatton's fellow LIV player Rahm struggled until a round of 77 and finished two shots short of the cut at par. He was joined in the early stages of the tournament by world number 8 Hovland, who followed a first-round 75 with a 73 to finish at four over.
“I wouldn't say anything went well,” Rahm said. “No part of today's game was even average compared to what I would like to feel.”
McIlroy falls further – but can he repeat his 2024 comeback?
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Rory McIlroy hits a big drive over the green on the 356-yard par-4 second hole at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic
McIlroy has secured his place in the final two rounds, but will start Saturday nine shots behind Ferguson and must do it all if he is to win the tournament for the third year in a row and fourth time overall.
Although he finished with a birdie four at the last, having earlier shown his skill with the driver by hitting the 356-yard par-4 second off the green, McIlroy admitted he felt “a bit frustrated” at the end of his round amid “tricky” conditions in shifting winds and dense barrels.
McIlroy tees off with a Dubai skyscraper into the distance on the eighth hole of his second round
However, McIlroy was delighted to be reminded that he trailed by 10 shots after 36 holes last year before successfully defending his title.
“I would say the winning score won't be much above what is currently the leader, especially the way the course is going to play over the weekend, and the way this golf course in particular has played over the past few years,” he added.
“The greens are going to continue to get a little tighter, and they're going to put such a premium on putting it in the fairway and hitting a lot of greens. If I can focus on that over the weekend, I'll get some putts down, I think I still have a decent chance.”
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Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Sky Sports
Sky Sports will have extended coverage of all four rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with featured groups live from 4am each morning Sky Sports Golf and bringing the bonus action before the main action.
Full coverage continues at 7am over the weekend, with all four rounds of the PGA Tour American Express and Latin America Amateur Championship also broadcast on Sky Sports. Stream DP world tour, major items and more from NOW.