Alvaro Quiros grabs early lead at Dubai World Championship as Rory McIlroy closes in: Live Leaderboard
The cutting-throat showdown between the world number one Luke Donald and world number two Rory McIlroy is warming up as the duo struggle to snatch the Race to Dubai Money Leader title at the concluding European Tour event, the Dubai World Championship. Second
round of the lucrative €922,645 event is underway as Spaniard Alvaro Quiros has surged to the top of the leaderboard carding an impressive six-under for the moment and is working on the last two holes through the halfway mark. McIlroy after a humble four-under,
68 on the opening day, is still in contention, tied for the second slot and still has to complete his second round. So far he has carded three-under, with four birdies and dropped just one shot at par-four, 12th.
Earlier in the morning Donald started off the day with a disappointing bogey on the opening holes on the front nine but regained his composure to strike back with two straight birdies. He carded another birdie before dropping his second shot of the day at
par-four, 8th. He closed the round with three straight birdies to strengthen his position for the rest of the round.
"Just personally in terms of my mental approach, that was huge," said Donald in regards to his three straight birdies on the last holes. “I was frustrated out there. I tried to stay patient, but it's tough. I want to finish off what I came here to do and
those last three holes brought a smile to my face. There's certainly a lot of pressure. I'm still making a few mistakes - maybe because of what's at stake. When there's a lot on the line you feel more nervous, but sometimes it's a good thing."
Donald is chasing the unprecedented dream of finishing as the money leader on both sides of the Atlantic. His position is currently threatened by McIlroy who is trailing the leader by €789,789. McIlroy needs at least a runners up finish to edge past Donald
on the Money List while Donald only needs to post a top-nine in the event to retain his title. Swede Johan Edfors is next on the leaderboard carding a round of four-under, 68 along with Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and the duo are poised at joint 12th
for the moment.
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