Lowry shares lead, Mcilroy loses ground as Morikawa stays in hunt
Shane Lowry and John Catlin stormed up the leaderboard to hold a share of the lead alongside Sam Horsfield with overnight leader Rory Mcilroy a stroke behind at the half-way stage of the Rolex Series event, DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
On the second day of the European Tour’s season-ending event at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Ireland’s Lowry and America’s Catlin were among the biggest movers of the day with both climbing 14 places ater carding 65.
Lowry, who is looking for a second Rolex Series triumph in the UAE ater his win at the 2019 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, began the day on three-under-par and made five birdies and an eagle while Catlin managed eight birdies and a bogey in his 18 holes.
They are joined at the top by England’s Horsfield who— despite back-to-back bogies — made seven birdies.
Speaking ater his round, Lowry said: “I feel like my game is in good shape and I feel I know my way around this place and I know how to play here. So, I’m happy to be at the top of the leaderboard and looking forward to going again.”
Catlin, said winning the competition on Sunday would make a huge difference to his life. He said: “I’m very pleased to get off to a good start. This is a very challenging golf course and every single shot has to be executed almost to perfection and it was nice to get some good shots.
“To get the win would be a life-changer, it’s probably the biggest event we have out here and to win that would be truly special.”
Mcilroy had the chance to build on his solid opening day’s 65 and two-shot overnight lead but despite five birdies, a bogey on the 10th and a double bogey on the last proved costly. Siting at nine-under means the Northern Irishman is now tied fourth alongside Sweden’s Alexander Bjork, who shot 67 for the day.
A victory this week would not only see the 32-year-old add a Rolex Series win to his four Major Championships and three WGC victories, but he would also become the first three time winner of this event.
“I’m playing nicely,” he said. “I started well again today and hit a lot of good shots on the front nine. It was sort of a litle scrappy around the middle but I was able to hang in there with my short game.
“I hit a nice one on 16 so the good stuff is in there. I still feel like I played well and I feel like 70 is sort of the worst I could have shot today, especially with the finish and hopefully that’s the bad one out of the way.
Collin Morikawa remains in contention to secure the Race to Dubai title, matching his opening round score of 68, trailing the lead by two shots.
The Open Champion entered the week at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and if he can still be there on Sunday evening, he will be the first American ever to be crowned Europe’s number one.
Morikawa insisted he was keeping his focus on winning the championship. He also that he was well aware of the permutations in that batle, he was keeping his focus on a maiden Rolex Series victory.
“I’m aware but I’ve got to focus on the weekend,” he said.
“I want to win this tournament. “That’s all I care about, winning this tournament and everything else will kind of setle itself.
“That’s my focus. We’ve played a decent two days and we’ve got two more rounds to go,” he added.
Horsfield is also looking for a first Rolex Series victory to add to his two European Tour wins and is feeling comfortable in his third appearance in this event.
“I definitely don’t feel like I’m out of place or do not belong here and obviously I feel like my game is really good,” he said. “Looking forward to the weekend.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia, Dane Joachim B. Hansen and Scot Robert Macintyre completed the top ten at seven under.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor opened with an impressive two under par round of 70 to take a two shot lead in the European Disabled Golfer’s Association ( EDGA) Dubai Finale.
Lawlor mixed six birdies with four bogeys on the Earth Course as he seeks his third victory of the five-event series. He will take a two-stroke advantage over Englishman Mike Browne and Canadian Kurtis Barkley going into Saturday’s final round.
The second day of action at Jumeirah Golf Estates was watched by thousands of spectators as the tournament hosted its first Ladies Day. Throughout the day, ladies had the chance to enjoy a wide range of activities including taking part in a special golf clinic as well as winning prizes.