Dubai Desert Classic: Ewen Ferguson admits ‘luck’ as grandstand aids eagle to lead
Ewen Ferguson admitted he had “a bit of luck” after he eagled the 18th hole to take a one-stroke lead midway through the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The Scot’s second shot was five feet from the hole after he hit the ball into the stands and bounced onto the green.
Ferguson made the putt for a bogey-free 7-under 65 to move to 12-under, one shot ahead of New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, who also An eagle on the final shot of his 65.
“I knew the last few holes you could exploit them,” he told BBC Sport.
“Obviously a little bit of luck on the 18th. I thought I was going to birdie no matter what, but the eagle was even better.”
Tyrrell Hatton had eight birdies while shooting a 65 to tie his lowest round of the day. He was tied with Britain’s Laurie Canter (68), South Africa’s Shaun Norris (67) and Australia’s Jason Scrivener (69). The score was 8 under par.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin (69) were in the same group at 5 under, while Scotland Player Robert MacIntyre fell further behind after recording six birdies and three bogeys in a 69.
Rory McIlroy (71) joined fellow Scots Richie Ramsay (71) and Calum Hill (74) at under par The score of 3 strokes was in a group of 11 players.
Spain’s Jon Rahm was one of the players who failed to advance. The two-time major champion suffered two double bogeys en route to a 5-over 77, finishing at 2 over par and 2 over the cutline.
