A three-time European Tour winner in 2015 got out ahead Friday at the DP World Tour Championship, but it was Rory McIlroy who charged ahead as the front-runner for the Race to Dubai crown.
The World No. 3 put together a second consecutive 68 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in reaching 8 under and a tie for fourth. More importantly, though, McIlroy, who held a slim 1,613-point lead over Danny Willett in the Race to Dubai to start the week, moved two shots ahead of the Englishman after 36 holes.
McIlroy is attempting to defend his Race to Dubai crown after romping to the season-long points title last year.