Hojgaard grabs lead, McIlroy closes in on Race to Dubai title

Nicolai Hojgaard continued his love affair at Jumeirah Gold Estates as he opened up a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship.

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The Dane is making his third appearance at the season-ending event on the Earth Course, where he came fourth on his debut in 2021 before lifting the trophy two years later.

Hojgaard began the day three shots behind leader Michael Kim, but an eagle and five birdies saw him catapult to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a flawless 65 — the lowest round of the week so far — to reach 12 under par.

There is a stellar chasing pack in hot pursuit, with his 2023 European Ryder Cup teammates Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Rory Mcllroy sat alongside Daniel Hillier and fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at nine under.

Mcllroy once again showed his mastery of the Earth course with a three-under par 69 in Friday's second round keeping the world number two way ahead in the Race to Dubai.

Mcllroy moved up to tied second place at nine-under par at the halfway stage of the $10 million championship.

"It's great to be back, it's one of my fa-vourite tournaments and courses to play,” Hojgaard said.

"I stayed really patient again. Yesterday was a really good round and I feel that I actually played a little bit better today. It's just staying patient.