DUBAI: An unlikely trio — Richard Bland, Thomas Pieters and amateur Michael Thorbjornsen — shared the lead at the top of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic as they finished their first two rounds over three days at 10-under.
Bland (67-67) who turns 50 next week is not just looking for an early birthday present but also wants to make up for 2022 when he lost in the playoff to Viktor Hovland. Pieters (67-67) is seeking to make amends for failing in his defence of the Abu Dhabi event, where he missed the cut. Finally, there is the 21-year-old American amateur Michael Thorbjornsen (70-64), who had three holes to take sole leadership, but parred them all to join the other two.