(Reuters) – Nicolai Hojgaard shot a 66 in the second round to take a two-stroke lead at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, reaching 11-under overall after an impressive comeback on the back nine on Friday.
After sharing the lead in a three-way tie with Frenchmen Julien Guerrier and Matthieu Pavon in the first round, the Dane initially struggled with bogeys on the third and fourth holes.
However, he turned things around with six birdies and finished with an eagle on the par-five 18th, where a brilliant second shot set up an easy putt after the ball rolled back to within six feet of the hole.
Hojgaard, who finished runner-up to Max Homa at the Nedbank Golf Challenge last week, is looking for his first title in 2023.
“It’s a little bit like last week, had a slow start in every round, basically. And then I just know on every round there’s going to be a run of birdies at some point with where my game is at. So it’s about staying patient,” Hojgaard said.
“I would like to play the front nine a little bit better in the weekend but I’m very, very satisfied with how I’m playing these two rounds. I trust my game at the moment.”
Five players are tied for second place, including Tommy Fleetwood, Thriston Lawrence, Viktor Hovland, Antoine Rozner and Jens Dantorp.
“I am just looking forward to the weekend. I always feel like it brings out great champions, so the ultimate goal is to be one of those,” said Fleetwood, a resident of Jumeirah Golf Estates. “Put my name on the trophy. Halfway there, enjoy that tonight and get ready to go again tomorrow.”
Masters winner Jon Rahm was tied for 13th at six-under overall, while world number two Rory McIlroy made three birdies and three bogeys to stay at one-under.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
