DP World Tour Championship: Day Two Digest

The Race to Dubai swings in Rory's favour as he shares 36-hole lead with Hatton, Chacarra is ready to challenge, and Jon Rahm gets denied by the pin for a second day running. Here's what you need to know from day two at the DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy and Hatton share lead in Dubai

Rory McIlroy strengthened his bid for a record-tying eighth Race to Dubai title after carding a second-round 70 to share the halfway lead with Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton at the DP World Tour Championship.

McIlroy made an early charge up the leaderboard with three birdies in his first eight holes before adding another at the tenth. However, the Northern Irishman found the closing stretch increasingly difficult as windy conditions made scoring a challenge on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Bogeys at the 12th, 16th and 17th threatened to undo his progress, but a birdie at the last brought him back alongside Hatton on five-under-par, who had set the clubhouse target earlier in the afternoon.

Hatton will have his own ambitions heading into the weekend as he looks to claim his first DP World Tour Championship title after coming close on a number of occasions.

The Englishman, an eight-time DP World Tour winner and serial Rolex Series champion, made an excellent start with birdies at the first two holes before picking up another at the ninth to reach the turn in 33.

A bogey at the tenth briefly stalled momentum, but Hatton responded with a birdie-par-bogey-birdie finish to sign for a 69 and establish the clubhouse lead.

“Overall it was pretty solid,” Hatton said.

Race to Dubai momentum swings in Rory McIlroy's favour

With Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra tied 11th for the tournament after the first two days, there was a significant momentum swing in favour of McIlroy, who is currently projected to top the Ranking and capture his fifth straight Race to Dubai crown.

While he needs to finish solo fourth at a minimum to overtake Eugenio Chacarra, a victory or solo second would also guarantee that he walks home with his record-tying eighth Race to Dubai crown. And although they are not the only two players in the season-long race, they are the closest players battling it out, and it's advantage McIlroy as we head into the weekend at Jumeriah Golf Estates.

"I want to win this tournament,” McIlroy said after his round.

“You know, I've won four times down the road at Emirates. It'd be nice to win four times here. So, yeah, I want to win the tournament. And if I win the tournament, that's all I can do. It doesn't really matter what any of the other guys do, you know, if they play well enough. But if I go and I win the first trophy on Sunday, then the second trophy should take care of itself.”

Chacarra ready for fight for Race to Dubai title

Eugenio Chacarra said if he can clean up his card over the weekend he likes his chances to win both the DP World Tour Championship and the Race to Dubai crown following a one under par 71 on the second day at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The Race to Dubai leader made back-to-back birdies to finish a rollercoaster day in Dubai, adding a second round 71 to an opening 72 that sees him hold a share of 11th after 36 holes on one-under.

The Spaniard, who is the only three-time winner on the DP World Tour this season, has plenty of experience making the most of the weekend and said he was happy with his finish as he looks to make the most of his opportunity to become the third Spaniard in history to win the Race to Dubai.

"I like how I'm hitting it," Chacarra said. "Like you said, there's been a lot of birdies in harder conditions. So if I can clean up the card a little, I like my chance on the weekend.

Another hit the pin near miss for Rahm!

Jon Rahm won last week in Abu Dhabi and is in the mix again as he makes his own charge for a second Race to Dubai title and fourth DP World Tour Championship. He's currently tied eighth, but it could have been lower if not for being denied by the pin for the second day in a row.

On Thursday the 2017 winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy hit the pin with a chip and it was second time unlucky again on Friday.

An important eagle for Oliver Lindell

The race for earn Dual Membership on the PGA Tour and the ten available cards continues to be a big narrative this week, and there was plenty of movement on day two among those battling it out to get one.

This moment from Oliver Lindell at the last may prove to be an important one, as it moved him into the tenth card spot heading into the weekend.

Speaking of eagles on 18....

How about this from Victor Perez.