Mcilroy, Hatton surge as Harding leads by 2
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Chip-ins from Rory Mcilroy and Tyrrell Hatton fueled their surge into contention at the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.
The player they’ll try to catch over the weekend is Justin Harding, whose own spectacular shot in the second round came from much further out.
Mcilroy and Hatton took advantage of beautiful conditions at Emirates Golf Club to shoot 6-under 66s — tied for the lowest scores of the day — and climb onto the leaderboard in the $8 million Rolex Series event on the European tour.
A chip-in eagle at No. 13 and an 18-foot putt for birdie at the last were the highlights of a bogey-free round for the No. 8-ranked Mcilroy, who moved into a tie for fifth on 7 under overall.
“Could have been way lower,” the four-time major winner said. “I certainly hit the ball as good as I have in a long time.”
Hatton sent in a chip from 34 yards at No. 14 that landed at the front of the green, took one more bounce and skipped straight into the cup for the last of his seven birdies.
“I was actually thinking about duffing it into the bunker while I was over the ball,” said Hatton, who was alone in second place on 9 under.
“It probably would have gone at least 10, 15 feet past, so we probably saved a couple of shots there but need a little bit of luck sometimes.”
Harding was the only player ahead of Hatton after a day when he played 19 holes and birdied No. 18 twice.
The No. 122-ranked South African returned to the Majlis course early to complete his first round with a tap-in birdie at the last to join JB Hansen in a tie for the lead on 7-under 65. Harding then shot a 68 to move ahead outright on 11 under overall, finishing Friday with a twostroke lead.
He also birdied the last, from 22 feet, and burst out laughing after holing out for eagle from 183 yards from the middle of the fairway at the par-4 sixth hole.
“The cameraman actually said, ‘I like it,’” Harding said. “I thought he was joking. It was just a good swing.”