Antoine Rozner carded a flawless seven-under-par 65 to overtake Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton to take the lead after the second round of the World Tour Championship in Dubai on Friday.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who was trying to equal Seve Ballesteros’ record of six European Tour Order of Merit crowns, and England’s Hatton had led the season-ending tournament overnight.
Frenchman Rozner finished with four straight birdies and had no bogeys as he took a one-shot lead over McIlroy and Hatton, who both shot 69.
“It’s one of those days where everything comes into play and I had a lot of fun,” said world number 154 Rozner, who scored 70 in the first round.
“I just think the trust has been built and everything is going the right way.”
McIlroy needs just a top 10 finish to win a sixth Race to Dubai title of his career, tied with Ballesteros.
McIlroy got off to a fast start with three birdies in his first four holes.
Another followed at the seventh as he climbed to nine under, only to make bogey at the eighth and 10th to give Rozner the lead.
McIlroy battled his way to the par-five final, where he produced a stellar second shot from within 15 feet and grazed the left edge of the cup with the eagle putt that would have seen him join the head.
“I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t get going after such a good start, four under to seven,” McIlroy said.
“At this point, I’m just trying to win the golf tournament and if I win the golf tournament, then whatever happens alongside that is good.
“Right now my goal is, you know, I’d like to get my third title here on the Earth course, and if I can do that, then yeah, everything else will be great.
“It was good to finish with a birdie and at least get something in the 60s after I left.”
McIlroy is seeking his first title since May after a frustrating year punctuated by several near misses, including agonizingly at the US Open.
Hatton had to claw his way back into contention after making bogey at the fourth, responding with a birdie putt at the sixth before adding another at the eighth.
The world number 18 holed to eight feet at the 10th to land a shot and when he holed a clutch putt to eight feet for birdie at the 15th, he was adrift of Rozner.
Chilean Joaquin Niemann made an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in his 67 to find himself seven under in fourth place.
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