Golf: McIlroy, Bjorn share Dubai Desert Classic lead

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Golf: McIlroy, Bjorn share Dubai Desert Classic lead

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Rory McIlroy and Thomas Bjorn shared the lead at the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic.

11 February,2012 05:01 am

World number two Rory McIlroy and red-hot Thomas Bjorn shared the lead at the halfway stage of the Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.At the $2.5 million European Tour event, the 2009 champion McIlroy posted an early bogey-free round of seven-under par 65 to set the pace, and his tally of 13-under par 131 was matched later in the day by the 2001 champion Bjorn (65).Among those lurking behind the leading duo was German world number four Martin Kaymer (67) and English world number three Lee Westwood (65).Kaymer, who made the first hole-in-one of his life during the round, was tied for fourth place at 11-under par 133, while Westwood was another shot behind at 134.Overnight leader Rafael Cabrera-Bello came in with a 69 to be at a 12-under par 132 to be one off the lead.Tied alongside Kaymer were Frenchman Gregory Bourdy (67) and Scotlands Scott Jamieson (68).The days best round was by 2007 champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden.An eight-under par 64 showed the Swede was reaping the reward for all the hard work put in after a knee surgery in December last year, and he surged to tied 11th place at 136.Scoring continued to be easy in exceptional weather conditions and the cut was applied at one-under par 143 and 79 players, including American past champion Fred Couples and Mark OMeara, made it to the weekend rounds.McIlroy, who is now 14-under and bogey-free for his last 29 holes, hit 17 greens in regulation.