McIlroy ties lead at DP World Tour Championship, eyes record-tying eighth Race to Dubai title

Rory McIlroy recovered from a back-nine wobble to birdie the 18th hole and join Tyrrell Hatton on a 5-under-par total after 36 holes at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The world No. 2 posted a 2-under-70 in the second round, after birdying four of his first ten holes and then making three bogeys between holes 12 and 17 on a course made difficult by a stiff breeze, thick rough and dry, slippery greens.

"Once you do start putting yourself out of position on this golf course, this setup, these conditions, it starts to get very, very difficult," McIlroy said, noting his frustration with the challenging layout after 17 visits to the venue.

McIlroy is aiming for a fourth tournament victory – having previously won in 2012, ’15 and ’24 – and hopes to overtake Eugenio Chacarra in the Race to Dubai points race to claim a record-tying eighth title, a feat last achieved by Colin Montgomerie.

Chacarra, in his first full season on the tour, remains ahead in the Race to Dubai standings by nearly 534 points after posting a birdie-birdie finish and a round of 71. He celebrated his round by pumping both fists and saying, "I like how I’m hitting it."

Patrick Reed, who entered the tournament as a realistic contender, fell out of contention after a second-round 77 that left him eight over par for the event. Jon Rahm, who won in Abu Dhabi the week before, stayed within striking distance with a second-day 71, three strokes behind the leaders.

Joost Luiten, the Dutch player who led after the first round, shot a battling 73 to remain just a shot off the lead, tied for third with Kristoffer Reitan. Luiten, who entered the field as the last qualifier, said he is "just looking up and trying to put a score together and be happy on the golf course – as happy as I can be," hoping the final two days could define his career.