DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Patrick Reed took the lead at the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic on Friday while Dustin Johnson missed the cut in a mixed day.
Sandwiched in the middle are four-time champion Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, the tournament’s top players who need a big weekend to challenge for this year’s title.
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Reed, the former Masters champion, kept a clean card through two rounds at Emirates Golf Club, shooting a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead after finishing second and 10th in his other two starts at the event.
Reed, who shot 9-under 135 this week, had four birdies and an eagle from 40 feet on the par-5 13th hole.
Andy Sullivan had a birdie and eagle for a 65, his lowest round of the day, and finished second.
Former world No. 1 Johnson became the biggest player to miss the cut after shooting his second straight 74. The American has faded into oblivion in the golf world after moving to the groundbreaking LIV circuit in 2022 (the same year as Reed), having slipped to No. 639 in the world rankings.
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Although third-ranked Fleetwood had just advanced after a difficult 72 and was 10 shots behind the leader, his partner, second-ranked McIlroy, birdied the par-5 18th hole and shot 69, repairing some of the damage from a 72 in the first round.
Still, McIlroy had seven shots to make up for Reid’s deficit, with whom he has faced off multiple times over the years, notably in a raucous singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup and the final round of the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic.
“It’s an improvement from yesterday and at least gives myself half a chance going into the weekend,” said McIlroy, who started in the afternoon and felt the situation was getting trickier as time went on.
Better placed was defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, who shot 69 and finished sixth, four shots off the lead.
Hatton, another LIV golfer, had his highlight of the day with an eagle on the short par-4 17th.
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AP Golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf