Ewen Ferguson moves into lead in Dubai

Hero Dubai Desert Classic R2

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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Pos.PlayerTo ParR1R2
1FERGUSON, Ewen-126765
2HILLIER, Daniel-116865
3SCRIVENER, Jason-86769
HATTON, Tyrrell-87165
NORRIS, Shaun-86967
CANTER, Laurie-86868
7LEE, Min Woo-77166
HØJGAARD, Rasmus-77166
WILLIAMS, Robin-76869
GOUVEIA, Ricardo-76572
OLESEN, Thorbjørn-77067
12VEERMAN, Johannes-66870
FOX, Ryan-66870
MICHELUZZI, David-66573
CLEMENTS, Todd-66870
16NORGAARD, Niklas-57168
MIGLIOZZI, Guido-56673
MANSELL, Richard-57069
DE BRUYN, Jannik-57168
DE JAGER, Louis-56970
REED, Patrick-57069
MCKIBBIN, Tom-57069
FLEETWOOD, Tommy-57168
24FORD, David (AM)-46575
WIESBERGER, Bernd-46971
JARVIS, Casey-46872
CANTERO, Ivan-47070
ELVIRA, Nacho-47268
COUSSAUD, Ugo-47367
MACINTYRE, Robert-47169
GARCIA-HEREDIA, Alfredo-47268
NAKAJIMA, Keita-46872
33RAMSAY, Richie-37071
LORENZO-VERA, Mike-36774
SUMMERHAYS, Preston (AM)-37071
APHIBARNRAT, Kiradech-37071
FRITTELLI, Dylan-37368
LI, Haotong-37071
BRADBURY, Dan-37170
MCILROY, Rory-37071
HILL, Calum-36774
SYME, Connor-37170
SIEM, Marcel-37071
44BJÖRK, Alexander-27171
HIDALGO, Angel-27171
LUITEN, Joost-27270
KO, Jeong weon-27369
WALLACE, Matt-27072
BRESNU, Adam (AM)-27369
SCOTT, Adam-27171
BHATIA, Akshay-26973
GUERRIER, Julien-26973
KNAPPE, Alexander-27666
SMYLIE, Elvis-27468
55NEERGAARD-PETERSEN, Rasmus-17271
ARMITAGE, Marcus-17172
SULLIVAN, Andy-17073
KRUYSWIJK, Jacques-17370
GIRRBACH, Joel-17271
BAIRSTOW, Sam-17271
LANGASQUE, Romain-17469
FORREST, Grant-17271
GUMBERG, Jordan-17271
SCHNEIDER, Marcel-17073
65DANTORP, JensPar7074
RAVETTO, DavidPar6876
ZANOTTI, FabrizioPar7569
SÖDERBERG, SebastianPar7470
VAILLANT, TomPar7272
COLSAERTS, NicolasPar7074
OTAEGUI, AdrianPar7371
DEAN, JoePar7272
SMITH, JordanPar7272
JORDAN, MatthewPar7173
KIEFFER, MaximilianPar7074
LAPORTA, FrancescoPar7272
HØJGAARD, NicolaiPar7272
SCHAPER, JaydenPar7173
GAVINS, DanielPar7074
CUT
80PAVAN, Andrea+17372
GREEN, Gavin+17273
FICHARDT, Darren+17273
HARRINGTON, Padraig+17075
BROWN, Daniel+17570
WINTHER, Jeff+17372
PARRY, John+17471
87AIKEN, Thomas+27670
SHINKWIN, Callum+26977
CROCKER, Sean+27175
COETZEE, George+27373
RAHM, Jon+26977
LAWRENCE, Thriston+27175
PIETERS, Thomas+27175
MERONK, Adrian+27373
KATSURAGAWA, Yuto+27076
96STONE, Brandon+36978
BURMESTER, Dean+37374
WU, Ashun+37473
JAMIESON, Scott+37077
LACROIX, Frederic+37374
VAN DRIEL, Darius+37374
SCHWAB, Matthias+37275
CAMPILLO, Jorge+37572
104WARING, Paul+47078
HOVLAND, Viktor+47573
BALDWIN, Matthew+47177
KIMSEY, Nathan+47573
WILSON, Andrew+47375
FITZPATRICK, Alex+47474
JOHNSTON, Ryggs+47375
PAUL, Yannik+47672
112FORSSTRÖM, Simon+57178
SADDIER, Adrien+57376
SHARMA, Shubhankar+57673
ELVIRA, Manuel+57178
DONALD, Luke+57772
FISHER, Ross+57178
118AHLAWAT, Veer+67476
DEL REY, Alejandro+67575
WHITNELL, Dale+67278
121WALKER, Jimmy+77477
COCKERILL, Aaron+77675
123VAN VELZEN, Ryan+87874
124KINHULT, Marcus+97875
125LARRAZÁBAL, Pablo+107579
RETDSTRYDOM, Ockie-1--
Updated: January 17, 2025
Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2025
Date: 16th January - 19th January, 2025
Location: Emirates GC, Dubai, UAE
Purse: $9,000,000