{"id":382164,"date":"2023-01-27T14:12:52","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T14:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/rory-mcilroy-and-patrick-reed-set-up-potential-showdown-in-dubai\/"},"modified":"2023-11-29T18:57:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T18:57:49","slug":"hero-dubai-desert-classic-2023-r2-rory-mcilroy-and-patrick-reed-set-up-potential-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/hero-dubai-desert-classic-2023-r2-rory-mcilroy-and-patrick-reed-set-up-potential-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed set up potential showdown in Dubai"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brilliant finishes from Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed raised the tantalising prospect of a showdown between the pair as the Hero Dubai Desert Classic headed for a Monday finish.<\/p>\n

Following a second delay of the week due to flooding at Emirates Golf Club, McIlroy returned to the course on Friday facing a short birdie putt on the par-three seventh, his 16th hole.<\/p>\n

The world number one calmly converted from four feet, then holed out from a fairway bunker on the eighth for an unlikely eagle and rounded off his morning\u2019s work in style with another birdie on the difficult ninth.<\/p>\n

That gave the two-time winner a six-under-par 66 which was matched by Reed, the former Masters champion finishing on the other side of the course by holing from 15 feet for eagle on the par-five 18th.<\/p>\n

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Rory starts the day with a hole-out eagle 🤩 #HeroDDC<\/a> | #RolexSeries<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/SyPuvjrOIT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 27, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n