Eagle fires McIlroy to Dubai lead

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-12 R McIlroy (NI) -11 L Oosthuizen (SA), H Stenson (Swe) -10 R Green (Aus), J Rose (Eng) -9 G Havret (Fr)
Selected others: -8 S Garcia (Spa) -4 C Montgomerie (Sco), L Westwood (Eng) -1 D Clarke (NI)
Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard

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McIlroy is currently 39th in the world golf rankings

Rory McIlroy spectacularly eagled the final hole of his second round to take a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The 19-year-old from Northern Ireland sank a 25-yard putt at the par five 18th to post a 68, taking him to 12 under par overall.

In-form South African Louis Oosthuizen, who fired a hole-in-one on the 11th, is one shot behind, as is Henrik Stenson.

Meanwhile, England's Justin Rose is a further shot behind on 10 under.

Fellow Ryder Cup players Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia are both eight under although American Erik Compton, who underwent a second heart transplant eight months ago, failed to make the cut.

I led after the first day and after today, if I can just keep going it will be very nice Rory McIlroy

The completion of the second round was delayed due to fog but when play did resume McIlroy was able to seize the initiative with his final stroke.

"I missed a few putts on the back nine, I gave myself a fair few chances, but all in all, it was probably a fair reflection of how I played," said the teenager.

"I knew that putt at the last was for the lead after two rounds and it's nice. I led after the first day and after today, if I can just keep going it will be very nice."

Oosthuizen, who has finished runner-up in the last two events in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, carded an impressive back nine, adding five birdies to his hole-in-one.

Speaking of the ace, his first in tournament golf, the 26-year-old said: "I saw it all the way. It came running towards the pin and next thing you know, my playing partners turned around and gave me a high-five so I guessed it was in."

606: DEBATE He has the talent to be a multiple major winner but at 19 with millions in the bank it will be interesting to see how he matures as a player and a person hogie

Stenson, who tied with Oosthuizen for second in Qatar, had the clubhouse lead before the fog delay having hit seven birdies to post a 65 to go with his first round 68.

Rose, tied fourth with Australian Richard Green, could have been even better placed had he not tarnished his round, which contained seven birdies, with a double bogey at the 15th.

Compton's brave bid to extend his tournament ended after his three over 75 wrecked the chance he had made possible with an opening round of 71.

The former top-ranked amateur, who as a child was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that hinders its ability to pump blood, suffered a massive heart attack last year and had to undergo a second transplant - but after recovering received a sponsor's invitation to play in this event.

Europe's new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie fired his second consecutive 70 to go four under, while a 69 allowed Darren Clarke to make the cut by just one stroke.

Ernie Els and Montgomerie's captaincy rival Jose Maria Olazabal were among those who failed to make the cut by one shot.

The tournament is running behind schedule after the first two days were affected by fog.

The third round will be played from two tees and in a threeball format in an attempt to finish as many rounds as possible by Saturday evening, with the likes of McIlroy and Stenson expected to have to still play around 25 holes in the day.

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