Rahm hit an amazing bunker shot Thursday but couldn't get it going Friday, as he was 4 over during a seven-hole stretch on the back nine.

Three-time DP World Tour victor Ewen Ferguson the halfway leader in Dubai after remarkable final hole; defending champion Rory McIlroy nine adrift; watch the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday on Sky Sports Golf,

Jon Rahm missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic. Ewen Ferguson was taking full advantage.

Rory McIlroy is making his 2025 debut in the desert. He will be joined by Jon Rahm, Akshay Bhatia, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Reed, Robert MacIntyre, Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Adam Scott and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Rory McIlroy believes he still has a "decent chance" of defending his Hero Dubai Desert Classic crown despite being eight shots behind leader Ewen Ferguson.

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland have missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic

If Rory McIlroy is to emulate the history of the likes of Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo, he will have to repeat his own history here at the Desert Classic.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while Jon Rahm missed the cut.