Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic. Ewen Ferguson was taking full advantage.

Rahm hit an amazing bunker shot Thursday but couldn't get it going Friday, as he was 4 over during a seven-hole stretch on the back nine.

If Rory McIlroy is to emulate the history of the likes of Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo, he will have to repeat his own history here at the Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while Jon Rahm missed the cut.

Dubai resident Ewen Ferguson had a finish to remember in his bogey-free 65 on Friday afternoon, taking a one-shot lead into the weekend of the 36th edition of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. The Scot,

Thursday's opening round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic delivered an unexpected twist when a trio of underdogs stole the spotlight from marquee names like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm to soar to the summit of the leaderboard after 18 holes.