Rory McIlroy stays in contention at the DP World Tour Championship, while Marco Penge struggles and Nicolai von Dellingshausen remains solid.
Rory McIlroy is on the verge of clinching his fourth consecutive DP World Tour Race to Dubai title. With a second-round 69, he remains within striking distance of the tournament lead. Marco Penge, currently second in the Race to Dubai standings, improved slightly compared to his opening round but still trails significantly and would need a miracle to catch McIlroy. Nicolai von Dellingshausen, the only German in the field, continued his steady play and sits mid-pack. Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard leads the tournament at 12 under par, holding a three-shot advantage over a chasing group that includes McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Justin Rose.
McIlroy in Strong Position for DP World Tour Race to Dubai Title
Rory McIlroy battled to a 69 on Friday to move into a tie for second and a strong position to claim his seventh Race to Dubai title this weekend. After a bogey on the first hole, he bounced back with a birdie on the second. His front nine was inconsistent, with a birdie, bogey, and another birdie over the final three holes. On the back nine, he birdied the 10th and bogeyed the 12th. At one under par for the round, McIlroy finished strong with birdies on 14 and 15. Despite a shaky 18th hole that saw him hitting his third shot from the fan zone, he saved par and maintained his crucial T2 position.
Hatton the Only Remaining Threat
Tyrrell Hatton climbed back into contention with a bogey-free 67 on Friday, putting him within reach of the season title. He birdied holes 5 through 7 and added two more on 10 and 15. Despite his solid round, Hatton admitted to struggles off the tee: “To be honest, I’m having trouble with my driver. I usually hit a fade, but my start line is a bit too far left, so I’m hitting a draw, which isn’t ideal.” Still, strong iron play and putting keep his hopes alive. If he can overcome the five-shot deficit to Højgaard and win the tournament, and McIlroy finishes worse than T8, Hatton could claim the season title. “I’m not thinking too much about it,” he said. “I’m just focusing on playing better.”
Penge Improves but Falls Further Behind
Marco Penge’s tournament continues to disappoint. After opening with a 74, he improved with a 70 on Friday but remains far from the leaders. He started strong with birdies on holes 2