England’s Andy Sullivan moved into contention to capture his fourth title of the season at the DP World Tour Championship, where Rory McIlroy moved a step closer to winning the Race to Dubai.
Sullivan holed a 30-foot birdie putt at the last for a six under par 66 and an 12 under total, one stroke clear of Argentine Emiliano Grillo, who had a superb 64, and three ahead of American Patrick Reed, whose 65 propelled him into the mix for the second week running.
The 28 year old won twice in South Africa earlier in the year before bagging a third title at last month’s Portugal Masters, and he delighted the large band of supporters who have travelled from his home town of Nuneaton.
The tournament’s thrilling sub-plot also continued to unfold, with McIlroy carding a second consecutive 68 to move into a share of fourth place, two strokes ahead of Danny Willett, over whom he currently has a marginal lead atop the Race to Dubai.
McIlroy is looking to end the season as European Number One for the third time in four years, although third-placed Justin Rose could also yet have a say in proceedings, the Englishman moving to tied seventh on seven under par with a 66.
Quotes
Andy Sullivan
“It’s been incredible all day with the crowd and the putts going in. I’d missed a couple of short ones on the back nine though so I thought if I could hole the one on the last it would be great. It was a big swing left to right and just dropped in at the front; it was awesome. I’ve got 30 mates here and they’re probably a key part in me playing well because they just keep going. Even when you start hitting a few wayward shots, the adrenaline gets going and it’s absolutely fantastic. They’ve been out six or seven times this year and every time I’ve played well.
“It’s incredible to be leading after halfway in such a massive event. A lot of good guys will be chasing me over the weekend and I’m sure they are going to come at me, so I’ve just got to try to do what I did today.”
Emiliano Grillo
“I played here last year and didn’t feel comfortable on the golf course, but something has changed this year. I’m hitting the ball very nicely. It’s pretty much like a Major here. You’ve got the best players in the world and you’ve got to play really well to keep up. The course is amazing and the atmosphere has been great.”
Patrick Reed
“I didn’t close it out last week and lost in the play-off to a birdie, so I’d say I’m probably a little more determined this week to at least have a chance coming down the stretch on Sunday again. I’d love could cap of the year with a W. Today was a solid day. I hit the ball a little better and I felt like my putting speed was a little better today; I made a couple more putts. It’s my first time over in Dubai and it’s awesome. I’m looking forward to coming back and playing some more golf here.”
Rory McIlroy
“I’m treating it like a normal event because I’m just here to win and I know if I win, then everything else will take care of itself. It played a little tricky out there with the wind conditions today and it caught me out a couple of times. Eight under par is a good position going into the weekend and not too far off the lead. I’m happy with my couple of days’ work.”
Danny Willett
“I’ve played some pretty good golf. The putt on the last was really the only one I holed all day. Six under is not too bad. The scoring is obviously going to be pretty low so I have to go pretty deep at the weekend. I’m a couple behind, but there’s still two more days left. Hopefully with nine holes to go on Sunday, it will be close.”
Round 2 scores
132 A Sullivan (Eng) 66 66,
133 E Grillo (Arg) 69 64,
135 P Reed (USA) 70 65,
136 R McIlroy (Nir) 68 68, T Jaidee (Tha) 69 67, C Schwartzel (RSA) 71 65,
137 M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 69, J Rose (Eng) 71 66, M Kaymer (Ger) 66 71, B Grace (RSA) 68 69, B Wiesberger (Aut) 72 65, A Noren (Swe) 71 66,
138 C Wood (Eng) 68 70, T Hatton (Eng) 69 69, T Pieters (Bel) 69 69, F Molinari (Ita) 67 71, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 73 65, B An (Kor) 70 68, M Fraser (Aus) 66 72, D Willett (Eng) 68 70,
139 V Dubuisson (Fra) 72 67, A Cañizares (Esp) 68 71,
140 I Poulter (Eng) 66 74, L Bjerregaard (Den) 69 71, P Uihlein (USA) 71 69, M Warren (Sco) 72 68, A Lahiri (Ind) 73 67,
141 L Westwood (Eng) 71 70, S Kjeldsen (Den) 71 70, A Wall (Eng) 71 70, J Luiten (Ned) 69 72, G Stal (Fra) 71 70, L Donald (Eng) 69 72, P Larrazábal (Esp) 69 72, J Donaldson (Wal) 70 71, L Oosthuizen (RSA) 73 68, F Zanotti (Par) 68 73, R Ramsay (Sco) 71 70, G Bourdy (Fra) 73 68,
142 J Van Zyl (RSA) 72 70, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 71, M Jiménez (Esp) 68 74, R Fisher (Eng) 69 73,
143 K Broberg (Swe) 70 73, E Pepperell (Eng) 71 72,
144 R Karlberg (Swe) 72 72, T Olesen (Den) 70 74, J Quesne (Fra) 73 71, J Morrison (Eng) 71 73,
145 A Levy (Fra) 74 71, R Jacquelin (Fra) 76 69, G Storm (Eng) 73 72, S Gallacher (Sco) 73 72, S Lowry (Irl) 75 70,
146 H Stenson (Swe) 77 69, R Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 76 70, S Hend (Aus) 77 69,
47 L Slattery (Eng) 76 71,
148 D Howell (Eng) 72 76,
149 T Fleetwood (Eng) 77 72,
