Patrick Reed carded a 6-under-par 66 on Friday to seize a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates.
Reed highlighted his bogey-free round with four birdies and a 40-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 13th. The former Masters champion and current LIV Golf representative stands at 9-under 135 at Emirates Golf Club, one stroke ahead of Englishman Andy Sullivan (65 on Friday) and two in front of first-round leader Francesco Molinari (72) and fellow Italian Andrea Pavan (68).
“Game felt good,” Reed said. “Kind of went out there and gave myself a lot of good looks, good opportunities, and only missing one green today, that definitely helps.
“You know, I went around this place, hit 17 greens and the one I missed was in the fairway, basic chip. You’re able to do that around this type of golf course, you’re able to shoot a number, and I was lucky enough to see a couple putts go in early and it just went from there.”
Sullivan capped the lowest round of the day with a birdie and eagle on his final two holes.
Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton of England shot a 69 on Friday to sit in sixth place.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland bounced back from an opening-round 73 to card a 69 on Friday. He resides in a tie for 20th place, seven shots in back of Reed.
“I hit a lot of good shots today. I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in,” McIlroy said. “But overall, you know, it was an improvement on yesterday, and at least give myself a half a chance going into the weekend.”
World No. 3 Tommy Fleetwood of England followed a 73 in the first round with a 72 on Friday to sit at 1-over.
Former Masters and U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson missed the cut after carding his second straight 74.
–Field Level Media
