GOLF – PATRICK Reed produced a flawless 66 yesterday to move into a one-shot lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The American boasts an impressive record at Emirates Golf Club, having finished runner-up in 2023 and inside the top 10 last year. The 2018 Masters champion began the second round four shots behind overnight leader and fellow-Major winner Francesco Molinari, but he quickly drew level with the Italian after two birdies and an eagle on the front nine.
Two more birdies at the first and third saw Reed reach nine-under-par before he parred his way home to complete a blemish-free round and lead by one from England’s Andy Sullivan, who posted the joint-lowest round of the week with a superb seven-under 65.
“Game felt good,” Reed said. “Kind of went out there and gave myself a lot of good looks, good opportunities, and only missing one green today, that definitely helps.
Sullivan made a fast start to the opening Rolex Series event of the season, carding four consecutive birdies from the third before adding another at the ninth to turn in 30.
A sixth birdie moved him to seven-under, but a bogey-birdie-bogey run from the 12th briefly halted his momentum. Another dropped shot at the 16th threatened to derail his round, but Sullivan responded with a birdie at the 17th before a stunning approach into the last set up a closing eagle to surge to eight under.
Italian pair Molinari and Andrea Pavan sit one shot further back, while Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard birdied five holes on the back nine in a bogey-free 67 to claim solo fifth at six-under.
Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World leader Jayden Schaper signed for a 68 to reach five-under alongside fellow-South African Hennie du Plessis, Sweden’s Joakim Lagergren, and Finland’s Oliver Lindell, as well as England’s Tyrrell Hatton.
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