Mcilroy and Bjorn are one ahead with a chasing pack on day 2 of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Rory McIlroy and Thomas Bjorn hit fairways and greens with metronomic consistency to surge one shot clear at the halfway stage of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club on Friday.
Both shot an identical bogey-free 65s to move 13-under for the tournament, just ahead of overnight leader Rafael Cabrera-Bello whose 69 left him in third place. The chasing pack was headed by world number four Martin Kaymer, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.
The Great Dane, who is back in the world’s top 40 after winning three European Tour titles last year, will be the man to watch at the weekend when he confronts Irish sensation McIlroy head on, on a course where he boasts a memorable win against Tiger Woods in 2001.
“I played some solid stuff all day, and I’ve done that for quite a long time now,” said the Bjorn, who is also a golf in DUBAi ambassador. “I’m not making too many big mistakes out there, and that’s the key to playing this golf course.
“Anybody who sits up there on the leaderboard has got a chance. That’s the name of the game. There are two (more) rounds to go and nothing is done yet,” said the 40-year-old Dane, who shot a sizzling final round 62 en route to his victory in the Omega European Masters last September.
Certainly, nothing can be taken from granted as this stage. Everyone out there on the crowded leadboard can fancy their chances. “I feel like I played a lot better,” said McIlroy, adding: “I started off very solidly and just kept picking up birdies along the way.
“I’m a lot more confident off the tee and am reading the greens better. It puts me in a great position and I’m very excited for the weekend.”
Germany’s Kaymer aced the par-3 seventh with an eight iron from 180-yards on his way shooting a tidy 67. “Now I’m part of the hole-in-one family,” Kaymer said after receiving a special Omega watch for his efforts. He will present the watch to his physio because of a bet they have every week. “I am more pleased for him,” he added in a lighter vein.
It was the second ace of the week. Scot Stephen Gallacher won a Mercedes-Benz car for his at the 190 yard 15th in his opening 69 and by adding a 65 he is alongside Westwood and Kaymer’s fellow German Marcel Siem in seventh place.
Former winner Henrik Stenson’s 64 was the round of the day, while Abu Dhabi winner Robert Rock improved six strokes on his opening 73 to stand four under.
Colin Montgomerie, Tom Lewis and defending champion Alvaro Quiros are among those on the same mark, while Sunday’s Qatar Masters champion Paul Lawrie is one further back.
The cut fell at one under and so four more previous holders of the title – Mark O’Meara, Fred Couples, David Howell and Jiménez – made it through with nothing to spare.
As did John Daly after a 72 that began with him taking six on the long tenth and then a quadruple bogey eight at the 467 yard 12th.
The American came back from that with seven birdies to show that his fourth place finish last weekend was no fluke.
The big names who missed the cut included former Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion Richard Green, Joe Maria Olazabal and Robert-Jan Derksen.
