Patrick Reed produced a flawless 66 to move into a one-shot lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The American boasts an impressive record at Emirates Golf Club, having finished runner-up in 2023 and inside the top ten last year.
Related: Francesco Molinari sets the early pace in Dubai
The 2018 Masters champion began the second round four shots behind overnight leader and fellow Major winner Francesco Molinari, but he quickly drew level with the Italian after two birdies and an eagle on the front nine.
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Two more birdies at the first and third saw Reed reach nine under par before he parred his way home to complete a blemish-free round and lead by one from England’s Andy Sullivan, who posted the joint-lowest round of the week with a superb seven-under 65.
The 38-year-old made a fast start to the opening Rolex Series event of the season, carding four consecutive birdies from the third before adding another at the ninth to turn in 30.
A sixth birdie moved him to seven under, but a bogey-birdie-bogey run from the 12th briefly halted his momentum. Another dropped shot at the 16th threatened to derail his round, but Sullivan responded with a birdie at the 17th before a stunning approach into the last set up a closing eagle to surge to eight under.
Italian pair Molinari and Andrea Pavan sit one shot further back, while Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard birdied five holes on the back nine in a bogey-free 67 to claim solo fifth at six under.
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Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World leader Jayden Schaper signed for a 68 to reach five under alongside fellow South African Hennie du Plessis, Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren and Finland’s Oliver Lindell, as well as England’s Tyrrell Hatton.
Player quotes
Patrick Reed: You know, pretty good warmup this morning. I feel like yesterday I hit the ball, you know, decent. Just kind of hard to tell with how hard that wind was blowing.
I mean, game felt good. Kind of went out there and gave myself a lot of good looks, good opportunities, and only missing one green today, that definitely helps.
You know, I went around this place, hit 17 greens and the one I missed was in the fairway, basic chip. You know, you’re able to do that around this type of golf course, you know, you’re able to shoot a number, and I was lucky enough to see a couple putts go in early and it just went from there.
A little bit of both. Felt like yesterday, especially on that back nine, I tried to do too much. Tried to take on shots that I probably shouldn’t have especially with the conditions and how the greens were, and because of that, short-sided myself a couple times in the rough.
The way that golf course was playing yesterday with how firm and fast the greens were, you just couldn’t short-side yourself in the rough and I seemed to do that whenever I made bogey. Missed a couple short putts.
Andy Sullivan: I felt like I battled hard in the wind yesterday and swung it well. I was confident going out there today and playing well. The front nine it wasn’t as windy.
So hit a lot of good shots and holed a lot of good putts. Then was out in 30. It was a bit exciting. The back nine was a bit of a roller coaster, up and down, but nice to bounce back after the bogeys on 17 and 18.
Yeah, just this golf course, you start hitting in the rough, and you’re praying on a bit of a lie to get it on the green. So I just drew two poor lies. I had to chip out and didn’t get up-and-down.
You know, that’s what it does to you. You have to hit fairways to make birdies, and missed a couple of them. Made bogeys. But obviously happy with the response at the end.
