Robert MacIntyre set the early lead during the second round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Friday, firing a bogey-free 68 to move to 9-under par.
The Scot, the 2019 European Tour Rookie of the Year, reeled off four birdies with no dropped shots in pleasant morning conditions at Emirates Golf Club to add to his opening 67 on Thursday.
By the time he had concluded his round, MacIntyre held a two-shot lead. Finn Mikko Korhonen and American Kurt Kitayama were in a tie for second having completed their rounds. Two-time major champion Martin Kaymer was one further back following a two-under 70.
Speaking after his morning's work, MacIntyre said: “It wasn't as pretty as yesterday's round, if I'm being honest. Wasn't as solid. But that's the way golf is. You can't have a 72-hole tournament where you hit it absolutely perfectly.
"Today I felt I was out of rhythm early on; the group itself, we couldn't get any momentum within the group, which was difficult. But I hung in there and I putted great.”
MacIntrye triumphed in Cyprus in November to break into the winner's circle on the European Tour and is currently ranked 52nd in the world – two spots outside the cut-off point for the first run of the season’s most prominent events. A strong showing this week would go some way to securing his place in the likes of the upcoming WGCs and April's Masters.
On cracking the world's top 50, MacIntyre said: "It's a goal of mine, but it's all taken care of by good golf. And what I'm doing just now is I'm playing good golf and starting to find a stride with the irons. If I continue to do that, then that should hopefully take care of that.
“Just now I'm sticking to what I've been doing the last two days or the last week and a half, and just enjoy myself. [My caddie is] doing a great job of keeping my in check and keeping me from losing a bit of cool. Just go and enjoy ourselves and see where we end up.”
The afternoon wave in Dubai included Sergio Garcia, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa and Tyrrell Hatton.
