Dubai, Nov 14: Nicolai Højgaard reaffirmed his mastery of the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he stormed into a three-shot lead on Friday (November 14) at the halfway mark of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship.
The Danish star, who lifted the trophy here in 2023 and finished fourth on debut in 2021, produced a flawless second-round 65 - the lowest score of the week - to reach 12-under-par.
Starting the day three shots behind overnight leader Michael Kim, Højgaard wasted no time in making his move. An opening birdie, followed by a superb eagle at the par-five second, immediately thrust him into the lead chase. His approach left him just four feet for the eagle conversion, coinciding with Kim's early struggles after finding a steep fairway
bunker at the first.
From there, Højgaard kept his foot firmly on the pedal, adding five birdies in a clinical display of precision and patience. He turned in 30 and became the first player to reach double digits under par with a birdie at the seventh. His fifth birdie of the day at the 14th restored a two-shot cushion before his advantage ultimately grew to three as Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen bogeyed the last.
Speaking after his round, Højgaard credited familiarity and comfort with the Earth Course layout. "It suits my eye. It's a precision course - a mix of driver down to four-iron - and it plays into my strengths. Staying patient has been the highlight so far," he said.
He added that avoiding unnecessary risks was key: "There are plenty of chances, but you can make a silly bogey by being too aggressive. I stayed really patient. "
Star-Studded Chase Behind the Leader
The leaderboard behind Højgaard is packed with quality, featuring several European Ryder Cup teammates in hot pursuit. Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and defending champion Rory McIlroy all sit at nine-under, alongside Daniel Hillier and fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
Rose briefly shared the lead after draining a massive 65-foot birdie at the sixth and went on to card a composed 67. Lowry matched that score with five birdies for the day, while McIlroy kept himself firmly in contention with a four-under 68.
Fleetwood, who surged early with a remarkable 61-foot eagle putt at the second, ended the day at eight-under, alongside Laurie Canter, Robert MacIntyre, and Alex Noren.
Neergaard-Petersen recorded one of the highlights of the day, nearly acing the 13th before following it up with an eagle at the 14th. His mid-round surge took him to 10-under, but a bogey at the 18th cost him ground, dropping him back into the chasing pack.
As the championship heads into the weekend, all eyes will be on whether Højgaard can continue his exceptional form and secure his second DP World Tour Championship crown in three years.
