Rory McIlroy provided a massive scare to his fans yesterday when it looked like he would bow out early from the Dubai Desert Classic by missing the cut, but a determined closing stretch of holes ensured his title defence is still a reality.
The world No2 had slipped to even-par for the tournament with five bogeys in 11 holes, especially struggling with his approach shots.
The cut looked like one-under par at that stage (which is where it was at the end of the round), and McIlroy had to dig deep. He made a long par putt on the difficult par-4 12th hole, then birdied the 13th and picked up shots in each of the three closing holes of the Majlis course.
In the end, the Northern Irishman was six shots behind leader Rafael Cabrera-Bello, but in good spirits.
Like the first round, McIlroy got off to a slow start, and was two-over after four holes yesterday, with the second and third holes being very good birdie opportunities.
And he said: “I struggled in the wind a little bit and didn’t get off to the best of starts again. I didn’t get off to a great start yesterday and got off to another slow one today, being two-over through four on this golf course when you have a couple of good birdie chances there wasn’t great.
“I needed something just to, first and foremost, be here for the weekend. Then birdieing the last three holes, definitely gives me a little bit of momentum going into the weekend.”
McIlroy said the course definitely played a lot tougher in the after as the greens got firmer and faster.
“Yeah, they got a lot firmer and faster as the day went on, and I think the wind played a little bit of a factor as well. The wind was affecting putts sometimes. It was tough,” he added.
“I’m in a way thankful that I’m not going to be out in one of the last pairings tomorrow, because I feel like I’ll get some of the better conditions and the course will be a little more receptive, and at least be able to get the ball pretty close to the hole and give myself chances.”
Prominent among players who missed the cut at one-under par included two-time champion Stephen Gallachers, European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Miguel Angel Jimenez.