Rory McIlroy overcame what he thinks was a touch of sunstroke to move into a share of the halfway lead at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
The world number one shot a second round 67 and goes into the weekend on 11 under par alongside world number two Luke Donald and Scot Marc Warren. South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace are only a stroke behind.
“I got off the course yesterday [Thursday] and had a really sore head and a fever,” said McIlroy.
“I think it was a bit of sunstroke. I took a few things and felt better, but I’m not feeling great again. The sun’s taking it out of me a bit.”
McIlroy birdied two of the first three, but came up short of the green at the 245 yard fourth and bogeyed. It was his only dropped stroke, however, and further birdies came at the seventh, tenth, 14th - he lipped out for eagle there - and 15th.
“I continued driving the ball really well today and gave myself plenty of opportunities,” added Rory.
“I missed a couple of short ones on the front nine for birdies but apart from that, it was a very solid round of golf and obviously I’m in a good position going into the weekend.”
Overnight leader Donald had a 68, while playing partner Warren - 189th in the world golf rankings - matched McIlroy’s round. Earlier Sergio Garcia shot one of golf’s most remarkable course records - two eagles, nine birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey seven.
It all added up to a second round 64, eight under par, and from 49th place after his initial 73 he was back in contention at seven under.
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