Three way tie as Warren joins Mcilroy and Donald at the DP World Tour Championship

World Number 189 Marc Warren finds himself perched alongside the top two players on the planet after the Scot joined Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald at the top of the leader board on eleven under par after two rounds of the DP World Tour Championship yesterday. Overnight leader Donald, who has yet to drop a shot at the final event on The Race to Dubai, carded a four under par 68, while Warren matched McIlroy’s round of 67. Lurking one shot further adrift on ten under par are South African duo Branden Grace and former Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.

For McIlroy, who complained of suffering from a mild case of sunstroke, it was a more than satisfactory round.

“I got off the course yesterday and had a really sore head and a fever,” said the 23 year-old World Number One. “I think it was a bit of sunstroke but I took a few things and felt better, but I’m not feeling great again. The sun’s taking it out of me a bit. But I had a solid round again today and being tied for the lead with 36 holes to play is a great position to be in.”

No player has enjoyed a bogey-free tournament on The European Tour in 2012 but Donald remains on course for just that after following his opening round 65 with a solid 68.

“Obviously I haven’t dropped a shot in 36 holes so I feel good about that,” said last year’s Race to Dubai Champion. “I wasn’t quite as good on the greens today but that was a solid round of golf. I thought the course played a little bit tougher than yesterday. But it’s the last tournament of the year and we’re looking forward to going out on a high note so it should make for a fun weekend.”

Out to spoil the big two’s party, Warren has long been considered a player with top ten potential and the Scot is relishing his impressive form.

“It’s great to be in contention with guys like that, and it’s a highquality leader board – you won’t see better anywhere in the world. It’s great for The European Tour, great for The Race to Dubai and great to be a part of it,” said Warren.

Just behind the leading trio, South Africa’s Branden Grace continues to show the form that has landed him four European Tour titles this season. Less than12 months after gaining his European Tour playing card, the 24 year-old remains poised for the fifth win of what the South African admits would be a “dream year.” And after posting a second round 65 (-7) to move to ten under par for the tournament, Grace is under no pressure at the thought of mixing it with the Big Two.

“I think in Europe and South Africa, I’ve got a pretty decent name but I can’t really compare myself to Rory,” he said. “He’s got two Majors under his belt and multiple victories around the world and he’s No. 1 in the world for a reason. But if I get into playing with Rory or someone like that, I’ve had four wins this year, so I pretty much know how to handle it by now. Just stick to my own game and take it from there. “

Round of the day came from Sergio Garcia who produced one of the most remarkable cards of the year. The Spaniard became the sixth player to shoot a course record 64
(-8) with an unorthodox round that included nine birdies, two eagles, two bogeys and a triple bogey and moved to seven under par for the tournament, four shots behind the leaders.

A Scotsman, an Englishman and Irishman may lead the $8 million DP World Tour Championship but it will be no laughing matter when the leaders take to the course for round three today (Saturday) with Grace and Donald out at 12.30pm followed ten minutes later by McIlroy and Warren at 12.40pm