DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland failed to make the cut, while Rory McIlroy was forced to fight to make the weekend after a poor performance at the Dubai Desert Classic. good.

Evan Ferguson took full advantage.

Scotsman Ferguson, ranked 141st, shot a 7-under 65 to move into the unlikely lead by one stroke after Friday's second round of the prestigious European Tour event.

Later in the day, Ferguson jumped into the lead with a huge fortune on the par-5 18th, hitting too hard his second time but seeing the ball ricochet off a large advertising board and back to the green. on the ridge, landing 5 feet from the course. Needle. He made the eagle putt to move to 12 under for the week.

New Zealander David Hillier, ranked 223rd, also shot 65, ranking second and the only player within three strokes of Ferguson. No. 17 Tyrrell Hatton (65) tied for third at 8 under.

Rahm (77), a two-time major champion, is now playing on the groundbreaking LIV golf circuit, while eighth-ranked Hovland (73), who spent two tough days at Emirates Golf Club, finished early So we went home, where the wind direction was changeable and the grass was thick and long. and test pin placement for harsh conditions.

"I wouldn't say anything is going well," said Rahm, who has dropped to No. 31 in the rankings. “No part of today’s game was anywhere near the average I wanted to be.”

McIlroy will remain on the course but doesn't look like he's in the shape he needs to win the tournament for a third straight year, especially with his putting.

The third-ranked Northern Irishman had a miserable final few holes, barely smiling even when he birdied No. 18 for a 3-under 71. .

McIlroy made only a 39-foot putt in the entire second round and was nine shots behind the leader.

"It's a little frustrating," McIlroy said. "But I think the conditions are a little tricky."

However, McIlroy was heartened when he recalled defending his title again last year after falling 10 shots behind after 36 holes.

"I would say the winning score isn't going to be much higher than what the leader is right now, especially the way the course has played on weekends and the way this golf course has played on weekends for a few years," McIlroy said.

“The greens are going to continue to get a lot firmer and there’s going to be a lot of emphasis on hitting the fairways and hitting a lot of greens. If I can focus on that over the weekend and get a few putts down, I think I’m still pretty good. opportunity.”

Ferguson is a three-time winner on the European Tour, most recently at the BMW International Open in July.