Ewen Ferguson Leads Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy Lags Behind

At the halfway point of the Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy finds himself nine shots behind leader Ewen Ferguson, who shot a remarkable 65 to lead at 12-under. McIlroy, a four-time champion of the event, managed a 71 in his second round but struggled with his putting, expressing frustration with the difficult conditions. Notably, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut, with Rahm's second-round 77 including two double-bogeys. Ferguson's lead is closely followed by Daniel Hillier, who also shot a 65 and is positioned to challenge for his second European Tour title. McIlroy is recalling his previous comeback from a ten-shot deficit at this tournament last year, indicating hope for a turnaround. He emphasized the importance of hitting fairways and making putts to have a chance at victory this weekend.