Ewen Ferguson admits he had "a little bit of luck" after he eagled the 18th hole to lead the Dubai Desert Classic by a stroke at the midway stage.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while Jon Rahm missed the cut.

“A wee bit of luck goes a long way,” declared a smiling Ewen Ferguson and he wasn’t joking in this instance as a slice of good fortune secured him the halfway lead in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

The second round of the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic was played on Friday, January 17 at Emirates Golf Club. The cut line was drawn at even par after 36 holes and 70 players made it through.

Leading second-round scores from the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic on Friday (par 72; GBR & IRL unless stated):

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson

As ‘Moving Day’ looms at Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai’s very own star sets the pace while marquee names prepare to climb the leaderboard

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.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while

For a spell on Friday afternoon the organisers of the Dubai Desert Classic had cause for panic. Jon Rahm had already tumbled out of the tournament after 36 holes, Viktor Hovland was heading the same way and Rory McIlroy was dangerously close to the cut line.