Rozner was on a roll, McIlroy shows his class at the last and huge birdies putt were all the rage at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Everything you need to know from the second round in Dubai.
Rozner rocks 'n' rolls in Dubai
It's amazing what difference a day can make as Antoine Rozner rose to the occasion on Friday. The Frenchman was struggling when teeing up at the 15th hole during his first round, sitting at two over par before making a miraculous recovery. He finished with four straight birdies, which included a missed eagle putt from six feet at the last. However, he was flawless in round two, making seven birdies for the lowest score of the week so far to lead at nine under. He said: "Just no mistakes. Of course, I putted really well. It's one of those days where everything goes in and I had a ton of fun out there. I think with my caddy [Patxi Londaitz] we had really good fun, and yeah, it was one of those days where everything goes right and took advantage of it. It was a lot of fun. I'm going to try to focus on having two solid days and see how it goes at the end. I think if I can have a chance on Sunday, yeah, it would be great."
The 31-year-old was inches from holing out for eagle at the 16th. What a shot!
McIlroy's magnificent last
The World Number Three made a fast start with three birdies in his first four holes to take control of the tournament. Another followed at the seventh to climb to nine under, only to bogey the eighth. He shared the lead with Paul Waring and Rozner at eight under until dropping another shot at the tenth, which handed a two-shot lead to the Frenchman. He parred his way to the par-five last, where he produced one of the strokes of the day. After finding the fairway with his tee shot, he landed his five wood on the green to give himself a 15-foot eagle chance to rejoin Rozner at the summit. The Northern Irishman's effort brushed the left edge but he tapped in for birdie to sit one off the Frenchman. McIlroy said: "A little disappointed that I didn't kick on after such a great start, four under through seven. I just started to miss a few fairways around the turn and not by much either but the rough is so thick, and you lose all control of your golf ball if you hit it in there. It was nice to finish with a birdie and at least shoot something in the 60s after the start that I had. I'm so comfortable around this place and I've had success before. So I'm liking my chances going into the weekend."
Rasmus to follow in Nicolai's footsteps?
Nicolai Højgaard lifted this trophy last year, but the young Dane was unable to squeeze into the 50-man field for the season-finale in Dubai. However, his twin brother Rasmus could keep the title in the family after a second round of 67 moved him into contention. The five-time DP World Tour winner rolled in seven birdies and a bogey before dropping a shot at the last to sit at six under par, three shots behind leader Rozner.
Holey moly
There were some huge birdie putts being holed on Friday, with Rasmus Højgaard kicking us off with this 45-foot effort at the sixth to climb within one of the lead at four under.
Darius van Driel got his round going with this lovely effort on the opening hole.
And Nacho Elvira, who started his second round with two bogeys, used all of the green to start his recovery at the third.
