DPWT Championship R2 Leaderboard: McIlroy and Fleetwood struggle as Hojgaard hits front

Nicolai Hojgaard opened up a three-shot lead on day two at the DP World Tour Championship, on a day where pre-tournament favourites Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood fell back into the chasing pack at Dubai's season finale. 

Hojgaard, 24, fired a brilliant 7-under 65 to move to 12-under par for 36 holes on the Earth Course.

The Dane is going in search of his second DP World Tour Championship having won his first in 2023. 

"This is one of my favourite tournaments on the schedule," said Hojgaard after his second round. 

"I stayed patient out there, plenty of chances but it's easy to make silly bogeys out there."

Hojgaard is now 46-under par for his last 12 rounds played on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

"It suits my eye, really like it off the tee - it's a position golf course and that plays into my strengths, which is mid-irons," added the Dane.

Hojgaard now takes a commanding three-shot lead into the weekend of the DP World Tour's season finale.

But he will need to keep his foot on the gas as a star-studded group of players are in a tie for second including McIlroy, Justin Rose and Shane Lowry.

McIlroy looked extremely out of sorts with his game for much of the round, but he still held things together to card a respectable 3-under 67. 

The World No.2 is cruising towards a seventh Race to Dubai title, and his fourth straight. 

"Had to battle a little more today," said McIlroy.

"The conditions were slightly tougher today, but yeah missed a couple more fairways today and got some really bad lies, the worst lies I've seen this week. I couldn't even get back onto the fairway on the last.

"I showed my scoring skills today and battled well and stayed patient, got the ball up and down when needed to so to shoot 69 I'm pretty pleased."

Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Daniel Hillier are also in a tie for second on 9-under par.

Tommy Fleetwood had a day to forget with a round of 71 but he's still in the hunt at 8-under par. 

Fleetwood made an eagle on the 2nd but struggled thereafter without a single birdie on the card. 

Overnight leader Michael Kim tumbled down the board to 4-under par after a 76.