• Dubai Desert Classic, Day Two

McIlroy lets it slip as Westwood charges through

Rory McIlroy remains in contention despite a costly final hole © Getty Images

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Day Two in Pictures

A double-bogey six on the final hole cost Rory McIlroy the lead after two rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic, as Lee Westwood blitzed the course to move through the field and into a share of second place.

Ulsterman McIlroy played beautifully for 17 holes, controlling the ball superbly and four birdies left him in the lead heading to his 18th. He took a risk by going for the green on his second shot from the rough and turned the ball over into the water. He failed to get up and down after taking a penalty drop and he toppled from eight to six-under.

With McIlroy stumbling, the door was left ajar and Westwood barged through in stunning style. He had a patchy time of things on day one, mixing birdies and bogeys at great regularity, but he was in hot form on the greens on the Majlis Course on Friday. The European No. 1 knocked in some fabulous putts, set up by excellent driving and approach play, as he made seven birdies in a round of 65 and he will have high hopes of bettering his second-placed finish in 1999.

Miguel Angel Jimenez sits level with Westwood. The Spaniard played quite beautifully and a round of five-under, which contained seven birdies and two bogeys, placed him on seven-under after 36 holes. Stephen Dodd posted his second round in the 60s to move level with Jimenez and Westwood.

"I played very well. I hit the ball solidly and holed a few putts," Jimenez said. "I was under par in the wind yesterday, but that was the other side of the coin with the putter until the end when I holed a couple of putts, but that's the game."

The big names were put in the shade late in the day as Thongchai Jaidee grabbed six birdies in a round of 66 to take a one-shot lead into the weekend.

McIlroy is just two off the lead and was happy with his display, albeit for 17 holes. "It is frustrating," he told Sky Sports of his mistake on 18. "I played solidly today, not my best golf, but I was getting it round really well and it is a pity to make my only mistake at the last hole. But I am still in there, only one behind the lead. The course is getting firmer and trickier and I am in a good position heading into the weekend."

Reflecting on his second at 18, McIlroy said: "It was a pretty good lie, they've been coming out of the rough pretty good for me, but it was because the ball was above my feet. I was trying to guard against it going too far left and it just turned over in the wind. It is just the way it goes and I will try and go out tomorrow and birdie the first two to make up for it."

Tom Watson was forced to show his scrambling skills during a tough second day in Dubai © Getty Images

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Paul Casey is well placed at four-under after a second-round 71, but feels his game is not yet where he wants it. "It was a bit disappointing to be honest," he said. "They are pretty good scoring conditions out there. I did not take advantage of it. I am struggling to read the greens, I did a bit last week as well. I have been busy the last few weeks and have not done enough practice, which is what I need."

Alvaro Quiros chipped in at the final hole to move two off the lead at six-under, alongside Marcus Fraser and Edoardo Molinari.

An excellent birdie putt on 18 moved Darren Clarke to three-under and in prime position to strike at the weekend.

Colin Montgomerie had a day to forget, as a 76 saw him slip to three-over and he will not be around for the weekend. Tom Watson will be back, but a bogey on the final hole saw him slip back to one-under.

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