Ewen Ferguson capped a bogey-free round with an eagle at the par-5 18th to close with a 65 and take a one-shot lead at 12-under at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“I think I played well,” said the Scot. “I just stuck to my game plan. I didn’t try and overpower the course like I had tried to last year. It’s just not my game. I hit seven-wood on some of the shorter holes that are tight and gave myself chances.

“Last year I felt like I tried to almost drive it on the greens, I don’t hit it as far as someone like Rory [McIlroy] and I had an awkward 30-yarder from the heavy rough but this time had a good strategy and felt good support out there so far. Yeah, 65 sounds nice.

“The front nine is so tough and I was actually really nervous starting the day. Five under yesterday, but one, two, three holes, some of the holes are so difficult. So I was really nervous at the start to try to get off to a good start. A golfer’s mind can get away from you sometimes and all of a sudden it feels like a different game. So when I got off to a good start, birdieing the first, I felt calmer after that.”

New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier also shot a bogey-free 65 featuring an eagle at the final hole to move into second place at 11-under.

England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Laurie Canter shot rounds of 65 and 68 respectively for a share of third place at 8-under alongside Australia’s Jason Scrivener (69) and South Africa’s Shaun Norris (67).

Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot a 71 on Friday and is currently T33 at 3-under.

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