Rory McIlroy continued his impressive start to 2018 sitting three behind Jamie Donaldson with seven holes to play as fog suspended the second round at the Dubai Desert Classic, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Read: Grace sizzles, Aiken and Immelman in the mix
Donaldson, who famously sealed Team Europe’s win at the 2014 Ryder Cup with a pinpoint iron approach on the 15th hole at Gleneagles, maintained his advantage after a second round 69.
Sitting three behind the overnight leader is McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman opened with three birdies in his opening five holes to close the gap on the morning field which saw rising Asian star Haotong Li one off the pace (66, 66) with South Africa’s Branden Grace and Sweden’s Alex Bjork two behind at -11. Bjork is -4 through 12 in his second round.
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Just the 10 birdies today for @haotong_li, including these two on his final two holes ? pic.twitter.com/QjDzi7Mof3
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 26, 2018
There is a group of six at -9 which includes two familiar faces in Trevor Immelman and BMW SA Open winner Chris Paisley. Immelman carded a second round 66 after his opening 69 with England’s Paisley -2 for his round through 13 holes.
Three South Africans find themselves in the bunch at -8. Dylan Frittelli is the only one of the trio waiting to start his third round as he finished with a bogey to card a 67.
Dean Burmester, who ended last year with a top five finish in Dubai, is three under with five holes to play in an afternoon that included three birdies and an eagle, which helped him gain the two shots he dropped at the 11th and 12th holes. The final Saffa in that bunch is Haydn Porteous, who is two under with four to play.
The remaining members of the marquee group which McIlroy leads has some catching up to do with Henrik Stenson at -7 and Sergio Garcia, the defending champion and last week’s winner in Singapore, one further back.
Louis Oosthuizen is on the cut line after rounds of 69 and 71 with George Coetzee also in with a shout of being around this week despite his opening 74. Coetzee is -6 through 12 and has every chance of moving further up when play resumes in the morning.
