Weather has wreaked havoc on the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour this week. On Thursday, play was delayed due to dangerous weather while Friday’s action couldn’t start on time due to course flooding.
The second round will conclude Saturday, while the third round will be played Sunday with the final round slated for Monday.
Richard Bland and Ian Poulter, both members of LIV Golf, are tied atop the leaderboard at 8 under. Bland was 3 under through four holes of his second round when the horn blew while Poulter was 1 under through three.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy was on the course early Friday to finish up his first round and he made the most of it.
He began by making a short-range birdie putt at the par-3 seventh, his 16th hole. Then he holed out an approach shot on the par-4 eighth for eagle. McIlroy finished his day by sticking a 159-yard shot to four feet on the ninth to play his final three holes 4 under.
Not bad.
With McIlroy at 6 under is Patrick Reed, who made headlines earlier this week after throwing a tee at the Northern Irishman. The two players have exchanged verbal blows for the past several days.
If there is a golf god, he’ll pair the two for a weekend dual.
Victor Perez, Lucas Herbert and Thomas Peters are 5 under, Tommy Fleetwood is 4 under and Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry and Ryan Fox are 3 under.
