Rory McIlroy battled challenging wind conditions and a quadruple-bogey but maintained his two-shot lead as he headed into the weekend at the Dubai Invitational.
The second-ranked player in the world showcased dominance on the first day in the desert, starting his defense of the Race to Dubai title with a bogey-free 62. However, round two at Dubai Creek Resort posed challenges, as McIlroy went from a four-stroke lead to a four-way tie at the top after twice finding the water at the eighth hole.
Undeterred, the four-time Major Champion rebounded with three birdies on the back nine, finishing with a 70 and leading at ten under, ahead of Yannik Paul and Jeff Winther.
McIlroy, with a strong history in the UAE, expressed confidence in his game, emphasizing his solid play over the majority of the course despite the tricky conditions. Looking ahead, he is set to defend his Hero Dubai Desert Classic title, the event that marked his first Rolex Series win in 2009.
Abdulla Al Naboodah led the team event by two shots, partnering with Pablo Larrazábal. They will play alongside McIlroy in the final team round on Saturday.
In a delightful twist, NFL legends Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and John Elway, both having completed their second rounds, shared their enthusiasm for the inaugural Dubai Invitational, expressing that they were “having a blast” at Dubai Creek Resort.
“I had a blast, I had a wonderful time,” said Fitzgerald Jr, who played alongside professional Adrian Meronk in round 2 of the tournament and Tom McKibbin on day one. “Adrian’s a special gentleman and to watch him go out there and play today, and to play with Tom yesterday, was great.”
Elway, who played alongside Dane Thomas Bjørn on day two of the tournament, added: “The last couple of days have been tremendous. Playing with Thomas was really special and we had a lot of fun. The course is fantastic and the weather is perfect, so it’s a tremendous tournament.”
