Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Emirates Golf Club hasn’t been kind to some of the biggest stars in international golf.

While Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson has established a one-stroke lead at the Dubai Desert Classic after solid rounds of 67 and 65 pushed him to 12 under par, Jon Rahm of Spain and Viktor Hovland of Norway were among those who missed the 36-hole cut Friday.

Seventy-nine players made the cut at even par or better after two rounds, but Rahm followed an opening round of 69 with a 5-over 77 that featured two double bogeys. That dropped the two-time major champion and LIV Golf member to 2 over par.

“I wouldn’t say that there was anything that went well,” Rahm told reporters. “No part of the game today was even average to what I would like to feel.”

Hovland had an even tougher go of it this week. The No. 8-ranked golfer in the world was 4 over after carding rounds of 75 and 73; a stretch of five bogeys in eight holes Thursday did him in and he never fully recovered.

Hovland won the DP World Tour Rolex Series event in 2022, while 2023 and 2024 belonged to Rory McIlroy. The four-time major champ from Northern Ireland squeaked into the weekend at 3 under par, following a 70 Thursday with a 71 Friday.

“A little frustrated,” McIlroy told reporters. “But I thought the conditions were a little tricky.”

–Field Level Media