Morikawa, McIlroy stay near top
A lucky break kept Collin Morikawa on course to become the first American to win the Race to Dubai.
A sloppy finish cost Rory McIlroy the chance of consecutive days in the outright lead at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The drama in the second round of the European Tour’s season-ending event was reserved for the final hour at Jumeirah Golf Estates — and the tournament’s two headline players were at the center ofit.
Morikawa pushed his tee shot at the par-3 17th hole and the ball bounced in the rough toward the water, only for it to hita hazard post and stay dry.
An up-and-down for par followed by a final-hole birdie saw the British Open champion shoot consecutive 4-under 68s, leaving him three shots off the lead and in a strong position to finish the season as European No. 1.
McIlroy, the first-round leader, reached the 18th tee with a one-stroke advantage but after driving into a bunker, his third shot kicked left short of the green and dribbled into the water.
A double-bogey-7 completed a round of 70 and saw him fall out of the lead, which was held jointly by Shane Lowry (65), John Catlin (65) and Sam Horsfield (66) at 10 under.
Gooch takes control
A strong wind off the Atlantic Ocean swept over Sea Island in St. Simons Island, Ga., and it was no problem for Talor Gooch of Oklahoma as he handled the exposed Seaside course for a 5-under 65 to take a one-shot lead in the RSM Classic. As expected, the balmy conditions of the opening round that led to record scoring gave way to 25 mph wind and temperatures that were10 degrees cooler.
Gooch matched the low score of the round — Taylor Moorehad a hole in one on the 17th hole at Seaside for a 65 — and was at 13-under 129. He was one shot ahead of John Huh(67, Plantation).
Boutier moves to front
What looked to be a wideopen race for the richest prize in women’s golf is now in the hands of Celine Boutier, who made seven birdies over the finak 10 holes for a 7-under 65 and a four-shot lead in the CME Group Tour Championship. For so much of the windblown second round, a dozen or so players were separated by one shot at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla. That included Nelly Korda and Jin Young Ko, four-time winners this year in a battle for LPGA player of the year. Over the final two hours, Boutier left them all in her wake in the chase for the $1.5 million prize.
Among her seven birdies, the 28-year-old from France chipped in from short of the green on the 13th, stuffed her approach to 4 feet behind the hole on the 15th, reached the middle of the green on the par5 17th in two for an easy birdie and closed with a 7-foot birdie putt.She was at 14-under 130.