DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Nicolai Højgaard moved into place to win the season-ending World Tour Championship for a second time by taking a three-stroke lead Friday, although a slew of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars have been nicely positioned to pounce.
The chasing pack included Rory McIlroy, whose sensible brief sport salvaged a 69 within the second spherical that stored him on observe to seize a fourth straight yearlong Race to Dubai title as Europe’s No. 1 participant.
McIlroy was tied for second place in a five-man group that included Justin Rose (67) and Shane Lowry (67). Fellow Ryder Cup gamers Robert MacIntyre (67) and Tommy Fleetwood (71) have been an additional stroke again, and Tyrrell Hatton (67) yet another shot adrift.
They have been all wanting up on the Seventieth-ranked Højgaard, who did not make the Ryder Cup crew this time — that honor fell to his twin brother, Rasmus — however is exhibiting a reminder of his means on the Earth Course this week.
The 24-year-old Dane shot 65, the low spherical of the day, to again up his opening 67 and was 12 beneath for the week. Højgaard gained the match in 2023, did not qualify for it final yr and is dominating a star-studded area in his return.
His solely different 36-hole lead on the European tour was on the World Tour Championship two years in the past. That continues to be his final win too.
“It is one among my favourite tournaments to play,” Højgaard stated. “It is nice to be again in a little bit of kind. It fits my eye. It performs into my strengths, which is mid-irons. It is only a actually good match for me.”
McIlroy blended six birdies with three bogeys on a day when he was poor by his requirements off the tee however his wedge play was magical.
“I felt like I confirmed my scoring abilities immediately and battled nicely and stayed affected person and obtained the ball up and down after I wanted to,” McIlroy stated. “And general, to shoot 69, I am fairly happy contemplating a number of the spots that I discovered myself.”
Alongside McIlroy, Lowry and Rose in a tie for second was Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (67) and Daniel Hillier (68).
Solely Marco Penge and Hatton, second and third within the Race to Dubai standings, respectively, can overhaul McIlroy this week. Penge (70) seems out of it in forty fourth place, 12 photographs off the lead, so solely Hatton can realistically cease the Northern Irishman.
Hatton, who’s 5 behind Højgaard, must win and for McIlroy to complete worse than tied for eighth with one different.
“You begin each match week making an attempt to win the match,” stated Hatton, who performs within the LIV Golf League. “It is type of no totally different. I do know I want outcomes to go my approach if that was to occur. I am probably not eager about it an excessive amount of. Simply making an attempt to play higher.”
Fleetwood began the second spherical in second place, one stroke behind Michael Kim, and had a irritating day with the putter. He made one eagle, on the par-5 No. 2, together with 16 pars and one bogey.
That dropped shot ended a outstanding run of 69 holes with out a bogey, stretching again to the fifteenth gap of the second spherical in Abu Dhabi final week when he misplaced in a playoff to Aaron Rai.
Kim shot 76 after opening with a 64.
