DP World Tour : Dubai World Tour Championship Leaderboard
Rory McIlroy has already won the Race to Dubai, but his "A" game hasn't arrived in Dubai after opening rounds of 71 72 -1 T36 find him 10 shots behind heading into the weekend.
However the rest of his A lister buddies made their move on Thursday.
While South African Thriston Lawrence held the early clubhouse lead with the best round of the day - 64 to go with an opening -1 71 for -9 he was eventually caught
Tommy Fleetwood 69 66 -9, Viktor Hovland 69 66 -9, in form Frenchman Antoine Rozner 68 67 -9 and Swede Jens Dantorp 68 67 -9 all joined him in the lead.
However moments ago Danish star Nicolai Hojgaard who began with 2 bogeys at 3 and 4, ran off 6 birdies, then with a shot of the day rifled a 4 iron from 220 yards 4 feet from the pin, closing with an eagle 3 to grab a 2 shot lead at -11. (67 66)
Højgaard may not have a win in the 2023 season but he has eight top tens - including a runner-up finish at last week's Nedbank Golf Challenge - with three top fives in his last four DP World Tour starts.
The 22-year-old also has a runner-up finish on the PGA TOUR, with his form earning him a Captain's Pick from Luke Donald for Europe's thumping victory over the United States last month.
Others in close pursuit include Frenchman Matthew Pavon who has been red hot of late, 67 69 -8, South African Zander Lombard 71,65 -8.
At -7 Robert McIntyre 69 68, Julien Guerrier 67 70, Thorbjorn Olsen 70 67 and England's Tyrrell Hatton 70 67 will all have their say this weekend as will Jon Rahm the defending champion 72 66 -6
Bryan Angus
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