Tom McKibbin will lead the Irish charge this weekend at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as he muscled himself into the fringes of contention thanks to a strong back nine at Emirates Golf Club.
McKibbin birdied four of his last eight holes for a round of 69 to climb into a share of 15th place on five-under-par and seven shots off the halfway pace set by Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson.
It looked like a battle to make the cut for the 22-year-old who started well with an opening birdie but was hovering around the cut mark on one-under after dropped shots on the 6th and 7th but birdies on 11, 13, 15 and 18 have put him in position for a weekend charge.
Otherwise, it has been an underwhelming week for the Irish contingent with defending champion and four-time winner of this event Rory McIlroy nine shots off the lead on three-under after he struggled to a one-under 71.
McIlroy, who is going for a third straight title here failed to catch fire and an opening bogey set the tone for his day. He picked up birdies on the 2nd and 10th but a bogey on the par-3 15th and a par on the drivable par-4 17th might have ended his chances despite a closing birdie.
There was also disappointment for Pádraig Harrington who let shots slip late in his round to miss the cut.
A round of 75 that included back to back bogeys to finish saw the three-time major winner miss out on weekend golf by a single shot on one-over.
Bogeys on the 6th and 9th had dropped the 53-year-old back to level-par for the tournament but he looked to be on a mini revival with back to back birdies to start his back nine.
A double bogey on the 12th put him back towards the cut mark and although he birdied 14 to put him a shot above the mark, late errors on 17 and 18 proved costly.
Meanwhile, halfway leader Ferguson has put his Team Cup omission disappointment behind him to lead by one shot on twelve-under after a second round of 65.
The Scot is yet to drop a shot this week and brought the early fireworks with a birdie, eagle finish to leapfrog Daniel Hillier into the lead.
Ferguson rode his luck on the final hole en route to his eagle as he saw his second to the par-five 18th clatter off the stand behind the green and bounce back to five feet, with the subsequent eagle edging his nose in front.
“I think I played well. I just stuck to my game plan. Saying that to Nick there, I didn’t try and overpower the course like I had tried to last year. It’s just not my game. I hit 7-wood on some of the shorter holes that are tight and gave myself chances.
“Last year I felt like I tried to almost drive it on the greens, I don’t hit it as far as someone like Rory and I had an awkward 30-yarder from the heavy rough but this time had a good strategy and felt good support out there so far. Yeah, 65 sounds nice.”
Rolex Series specialist Tyrrell Hatton shares third place on eight-under-par.
Scoring HERE
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