Dubai: Rory McIlroy says he’s still in the hunt for an Omega Dubai Desert Classic hat-trick this weekend despite almost missing the cut at Emirates Golf Club on Friday.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman was level par overall for the tournament through to the 12th hole after five bogeys and a birdie, but then he got four birdies in his last six holes to spare any major embarrasment.
If he had stayed at level par he would have missed the cut, but thanks to his late flurry he now stands tied for 23rd at four under par for the tournament after rounds of 68 and 72.
“There’s a lot of players between myself and the lead but at the same time, I’ve come back from bigger deficits than this, and this is one of my favourite places,” said the World No.2, who made his first career cut in this event in 2007 and got his first professional win here in 2009 before following it up with his second Coffee Pot trophy in 2015.
“I struggled in the wind and didn’t get off to the best of starts. The middle of the round was tough,” added the four-time Major winner, who had said coming into this tournament that he would be disappointed if he couldn’t equal Ernie Els’ record for most wins [three] here this weekend.
“I was definitely thinking about [missing the cut], especially over the putt on 12, I bogeyed 11 and had a six footer for par on 12, and if I missed that, one over par for the tournament, it would have been a long way back from there,” he admitted. “To make that putt and play the next six holes at four under par was a nice way to finish. Birdieing the last three holes definitely gives me a little bit of momentum going into the weekend.
“I bounced back well and persevered and got something out of the round in the end. It never looked like I was going to shoot better than over par, but to shoot par is not bad.
“If I can get off to a faster start, you never know, and I’ll get better conditions as well, because I’ll be out a little earlier. the greens and the course in general got very firm and very fast out there [in the afternoon] so hopefully I can get out in the morning and post a good score.”
While McIlroy dodged the cut many other big names weren’t so fortunate, such as; 2013 and 2014 champion Stephen Gallacher (one over), 2010 winner Miguel Angel Jimenez (four over), Louis Oosthuizen (three over), Lee Westwood (one over), Graeme McDowell (one over), Martin Kaymer (two over), Darren Clarke (par) and Paul McGinley (five over).
Meanwhile, amateurs Bryson DeChambeau (five under) and James Allan (three under) more than held their own amongst the big boys to survive the weekend.
