Round 2 Highlights | 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic

Round 2 Highlights Overview

• ⛳ The video showcases key moments and impressive shots from Round 2 of the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
• ✨ Spectators witnessed multiple birdies and near-eagles, with players battling challenging course conditions.

Key Player Performances

• 🎯 Rory McIlroy made a strong comeback, achieving a closing birdie for a three-under-par round of 69, bringing him back to level par.
• 👏 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen impressed with his putting, demonstrating careful speed control on challenging greens.
• ✅ Tyrrell Hatton showed excellent short game skills, getting up and down eight out of nine times after missing greens in Round 1.
• ⚡ Andy Sullivan had an exceptional front nine, recording five birdies with no drop shots to turn in 30.
• 🏌️‍♂️ Tommy Fleetwood was seen battling to make the halfway cut, while Nikolai Hojgaard went three under on the back nine.

Patrick Reed's Dominance

• 🏆 Patrick Reed delivered a fantastic bogey-free round of 66, positioning him as the leader after 36 holes.
• 🧠 Reed attributed his success to hitting the ball well and giving himself many good opportunities, missing only one green.
• 📈 He noted that the greens were more receptive in Round 2 compared to the previous day, allowing for a lower score.

Course Conditions and Strategy

• 🌬️ Reed described the greens as pure but challenging, especially in windy conditions which dried them out and made reading the grain difficult.
• ⚠️ Players, including Reed, found it hard to judge putts due to the ball gliding rather than turning over, leading to missed short putts.
• 💡 Reed learned from Round 1, where he felt he tried to do too much and short-sided himself on firm, fast greens.