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

Rory McIlroy believes he still has a "decent chance" of defending his Hero Dubai Desert Classic crown despite being eight shots behind leader Ewen Ferguson.

Rory McIlroy is not playing at the level we have come to expect, but has precedence to lean on at the Hero Desert Dubai Classic.

For a spell on Friday afternoon the organisers of the Dubai Desert Classic had cause for panic. Jon Rahm had already tumbled out of the tournament after 36 holes, Viktor Hovland was heading the same way and Rory McIlroy was dangerously close to the cut line.

Ewen Ferguson took the spotlight at the Dubai Desert Classic, leading after the second round. Ranked No. 141, Ferguson edged ahead after an advantageous shot at the 18th hole. Meanwhile, top-ranked stars Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut,

McIlroy has shown a flair for the Emirates Golf Club over the years, but will require a low 60s round, or the leaders to fall back, to win a fifth Dubai Desert Classic of his career on Sunday.

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.

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.

Rory McIlroy faced a 10-shot deficit to Cameron Young at the midway point of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. He then carded a 9-under 63 on Saturday, which helped propel him to a victory the following day.

The No. 223-ranked New Zealander birdied the final two holes to shoot 2-under 70 and take a one-stroke lead into the final round.

Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson capped off a thrilling second round at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic with an eagle on the final hole, propelling him to a one-shot lead at Emirates Golf Club. Ferguson’s 12-under-par halfway total of 132 saw him edge past New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, who had set the pace earlier in the day.