Patrick Reed leads after round 2 at Hero Dubai Desert Classic... Live scoreboard

  DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tee Times Leaderboard

American Patrick Reed playing in the early wave has posted 69 66 -9 tot ake the clubhouse lead in round 2 at this Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Patrick Reed pictured during day two of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club | Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Reed who gave up his membership on the PGA Tour to join LIV has made the most of his opportunities to play on the DP World Tour. He was made an Honorary Lifetime member of the DP World Tour after winning the 2018 Masters.ith that honour and holds a Category 1 exemption on the DP World Tour.

LIV has been paying the DP World Tour fines for Reed and others like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, however this year they will not, leaving Reed with a fine of $1,000,000 to pay this year.

"If it happens that I am to pay fines so be it, I am not going to let that deter me from supporting and playing on this tour. I have been playing here since winning the WGC in 2014.

I love being that one American that comes over and tries to be a thorn in everyone's side when the Europeans are al out playing. I have always wanted to be a world wide player, and playing this tour is how to do it."

The cut has been projected to fall at +1

Rory McIlroy opened with +1 73 is just under the cut through 12 holes today -1 E total.

Tommy Fleetwood also opened 73 and needs to rally today +1 through 12 +2 total

Former #1 DJ Johnson has played exclusively on LIV where his form has dropped significantly since his hey days has MC 74 74 +4.  more to come..

Final edit 

Patrick Reed produced a flawless round of 66 to move into a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

The American has a great track record around Emirates Golf Club, finishing as runner-up in 2023 and in the top ten last year.

Reed began the second round four shots adrift of overnight leader Francesco Molinari, but he was soon level with the Italian after two birdies and an eagle on his front nine.

Two more birdies came at the first and third to reach nine under before parring his way home for a blemish-free 66.

He sits one clear of Englishman Andy Sullivan, who carded the joint lowest round of the week with a brilliant seven-under 65.

"Game felt good. Kind of went out there and gave myself a lot of good looks, good opportunities and only missing one green today, that definitely helps," Reed said.

"You're able to do that around this type of golf course, you're able to shoot a number and I was lucky enough to see a couple of putts go in early and it just went from there.

"The golf course is definitely a little bit more gettable in the morning, especially a day like today because the greens are a little bit more receptive."

Mikael Lindberg, who has not missed a cut since the Nexo Championship in August, continued his rich vein of recent form by closing the gap on Reed to one.

Sullivan kickstarted his tournament with four straight birdies from the third before adding another at the ninth to reach the turn in 30. He birdied the 17th before a stunning second shot into the last set up a closing eagle to jump up to -8.

Italian pair Molinari and Andrea Pavan were two shots off the lead at -7, while Denmark's Nicolai Højgaard birdied five holes on the back nine for a bogey-free 67 to sit in solo fifth at -6.

Jayden Schaper carded a 68 to finish at -4 alongside fellow South African Hennie du Plessis, Lindberg, Finland's Oliver Lindell and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus

Bryan Angus

Molinari surges to lead Hero Dubai Desert Classic.. 18 hole results, Live scoreboard

 DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tee Times Leaderboard

Today Francesco Molinari now 43, ranked a distant owgr 418, has posted an 8 birdie 1 bogey -7 65 to take the clubhouse lead at this prestigious Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

In 2018, he was on top of the golfing world....

.In 2018 Francesco "Frankie" Molinari was atop the golfing world.

He won the Open Championship at Carnoustie, paired with Tiger Woods in the final round, having won the BMW PGA Championship earlier n the year to beat Rory McIlroy, he shot a Sunday 62 to win the Quicken Loans on the PGA Tour by 8 shots

Francesco Molinari of Italy kisses the trophy after winning the British Open. (Peter Morrison/AP)

At the Ryder Cup in France he was undefeated, 5-0-0 beating Phil Mickelson in singles, then won the Race To Dubai. He was the European Tour Player of the Year, won the BBC World Sports Star of the Year and was awarded the Golden Collar of Sports Merit. 

He was still hot in 2019 winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Much is made of Tiger winning the 2019 Masters, but the fact is, Molinari,, stunning the American media, was the 54 hole leader at -13 two holes clear of Tiger and Tony Finau, putting on a masterclass of iron play and putting.

He still led after 11 holes until he found the water at 12 for a double, and then a bad break at the 15th where his approach clipped an overhanging tree branch, landing in Rae's Creek for another double to hand the lead to Tiger. Frankie finished T5,

Little has been heard from him since although he has been playing, he moved his family to California, to play on the PGA Tour in 2019, and  has become an Alternate Captain on the Ryder Cup team. .... more to follow

Francesco Molinari rolled back the years with a stunning 65 to lead by two shots after a windy first round at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

The Italian, who has not been in the winner's circle since claiming The 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2018, made light work of the breezy conditions at Emirates Golf Club thanks to eight birdies and one dropped shot.

Molinari has returned to form after an indifferent 2025 DP World Tour campaign with a top-ten finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player in December before making the cut at last week's Dubai Invitational.

However, Molinari - already a Rolex Series winner at the 2018 BMW PGA Championship - finished his round with three consecutive birdies to carve open a two-shot advantage and take the overnight lead.

"Not super unexpected, but I wasn't expecting a score like that," Molinari admitted.

"Last week I felt very rusty, so I was hoping it would be very good prep for this week.

"Yeah, putter was the biggest difference to be honest. Made some nice putts. Kept the round going in the middle where I played a couple of iffy holes and made some good pars. Obviously very, very pleased with the start.

"It's tricky, but I did a good job of staying in the moment. Like we always say, not get too flustered one way or the other, and at the end of the day, obviously you add them up and it's pretty good."

JC Ritchie started with an eagle at the tenth before birdies at the 13th and 18th offset a bogey at the 15th. 

The South African moved to within one of Molinari with a hat-trick of birdies from the second, but he double-bogeyed the sixth and finished at 68 -4

Swiss player Girrbach opened with a bogey, but bounced back with an eagle and three birdies for his 68.

Japan's Yuto Katsuragawa, China's Wenyi Ding, Spaniard Manuel Elvira, Italy's Andrea Pavan, Germany's Nicolai von Dellingshausen and American pair Patrick Reed and Johannes Veerman were in a share of fifth at 69 -3

Play was suspended at 5.50pm local time due to darkness, with nine players to complete their first rounds on Friday morning.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus

PGA Tour: Six Canadians at American Express....Full TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour:  American Express Tee Times 

The PGA Tour is back at La Quinta in the California desert for the annual American Express, you old timers will remember it as " The Hope" when Bob Hope hosted it for so many years, bringing his Hollywood pals and American Presidents with him, it was always the first look at golf for the year on TV, lots of laughs, celebrities, pretty girls and some great golf from the best players, for example, Arnie won it 5 times.

It's different now, the pro-am is all corporate schmoozing, the field is decent, this year Scheffler who has been on holiday for 3 months has decided to play which will please the sponsor.

There are 6 Canadians. Mac Hughes begins his season after playing a few Fall season events to try and get in the top 60, he is at #73.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju was a creditable T13 last week in his Tour debut, Taylor Pendrith had a strong weekend T6, Nick Taylor T13 in defense of his title at the Sony, Adam Svensson , and AJ Ewart who has all weekend to practice after MC last week round out the contingent.

By the way Adam Hadwin who usually had a strong week here including his 59, begins his season on the Korn Ferry Tour in Bogota, Columbia, as he begins his season trying to regain his PGA Tour card. 

Bryan Angus

20 years and counting Rory McIlroy's love affair Hero Dubai Desert Classic...

 DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tee Times Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy revealed his focus for the 2026 DP World Tour campaign as he targets his fifth Rolex Series title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

The World Number Two became the sixth male player to achieve the career Grand Slam with his victory at the Masters last April during a year to remember for the 36-year-old.

He went on to win his second Amgen Irish Open crown of his career in September before helping Team Europe retain the Ryder Cup with victory at a raucous Bethpage Black in New York later that month.

McIlroy completed a stellar season by lifting his seventh Harry Vardon trophy, which confirmed his ranking as Europe’s Number One.

After a momentous year, McIlroy insisted he would not rest on his laurels and would bring enthusiasm to every event he tees up at, including at Emirates Golf Club.

"I think it's bringing that attitude and knowing my limitations and knowing, okay, this is somewhere I want to play," the Northern Irishman said.

"I've always said the results will take care of themselves if you do the other things right, and I think this year my focus is just doing the other things right. Then I feel like I'm a good enough golfer that then the results will take care of themselves."

He added: "I think I need to show up at tournaments with enthusiasm every single time.

"So playing in the places that I want to play, playing the tournaments I want to play. Not feeling like I'm at a tournament because I'm obligated or have to be there, but because I want to be there.

"And I said this last week, but finding joy in the process.  I've been coming here for 20 years.

"You just think about the amount of balls that I've hit and the amount of time I've spent on the range on my own. That starts to get tedious 20 years into a career.

"So it's like trying to find the joy in that. What I really found joy in I feel like at home is playing golf.

"I definitely spend more time on the golf course than on the practice range nowadays, and that's something I've started to really, really enjoy."

McIlroy continued his love affair with the Middle East during last week's Dubai Invitational.

He finished two shots behind winner Nacho Elvira for a share of third, which extended his extraordinary record in the United Arab Emirates to seven victories, eight runner-up finishes and 37 top-tens

This week also marks 20 years since making his bow at Emirates Golf Club as a 16-year-old amateur, as McIlroy sets his sights on a record-extending fifth Dallah Trophy.

"I love Dubai. It holds so many great memories for me, first of which was coming here as a 16-year-old, and playing in the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time as an amateur, and I played twice as an amateur," the 36-year-old said.

"In 2007, I made the cut, and that got me to world number one in the amateur rankings, and two years later, I won my first professional event here.

"So it's a lot of great memories. I've met a lot of great people along the way.

"Honestly, I've always felt like it was a perfect place to start the year."

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Hero Dubai Desert Classic....Roy McIlroy heads full field... TEE TIMES

DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tee Times Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy headlines a 126 man DP World Tour field this week at the Emirates GC, for this version of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Group 18 8.05am 10th  Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood. Tyrrell Hatton (defending)

Other Ryder Cup teammates Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Luke Donald are also in the field as is last week's emotional winner, Spanish veteran, Nacho Elvira.

Confusion

As the line between LIV and the DP World Tour continues to be blurred beside Tyrell Hatton who has paid up his fines and is the defending champion, others like Patrick Reed continues to play, now Laurie Canter who just passed up on his PGA Tour card, Thomas Detry who just signed with LIV, Dustin Johnson, Joaquin Niemann, Victor Perez, Adrian Meronk, Tom McKibbon and David Puig are all in the field.

Meanwhile other members with full cards like Aaron Cockerill are not, while Eddie Pepperell who finished well behind Aaron in qualifying through Q School, is in the field on a sponsors exemption. 

Confusing isn't it...some would say not right.

Dubai is 9 hours ahead of EST so I will be covering this in the early hours here in frigid Toronto.

Bryan Angus

Chris Gotterup powers his way to Sony Open title...Final results

    PGA Tour : Sony Open Results

There was a fortnight in July 2025 in Britain when a strong stockily built American introduced himself to the world. We hadn't heard much about his college career, his golfing father Morten, or his win in an alternative PGA Tour event, One Flight Myrtle Beach Classic.

Chris Gotterup (Matt York A/P)

Chris Gotterup was #195 in the world, then he shocked us when he outplayed Rory to win the Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick, before catching the train down to Royal Liverpool and placed 3rd behind Scott Scheffler at the Open Championship.

On Sunday he emerged from the pack after leader Davis Riley ran into bogey trouble mid round, with 3 birdies on the back nine for -6 64  (63 69 68 64) and a -16 264 total for the 2 shot win, and a spot at #17 in the world.

"I just felt like this week I was in a good frame of mind, happy to be here. I felt like I was in control of my brain which was the main thing. I drove it great and made some putts when it mattered."

Ryan Gerard who we saw on the DP World Tour when he flew to Mauritius to finish 2nd in a playoff to Jayden Schaper, thus getting into the world top 50 for the Masters, was 2nd 69 64 68 65, -14.

Canadians : None of Nick Taylor, Corey Conners or Adam Svensson count mount a charge at the lead on Sunday, here are all their scores.

Taylor Pendrith T6 69 68 68 64 -11 

Sudarshan Yellamaraju T13 67 67 72 65 -9

Nick Taylor T13  62 69 70 70 -13

Corey Conners T24  70 67 65 71 -7

Adam Svensson T40 65 70 67 73 -5

This week its the American Express at La Quinta where European Ryder Cup star Sepp Straka will defend his title.

Bryan Angus

Nacho Elvira outlasts McIlroy, Lowry to win Dubai Invitational... Final Results

  DP World Tour : Dubai Invitational Leaderboard

Spanish veteran Nacho Elvira with his wife and 2 girls waiting anxiously, emerged from a 5 player logjam, holding his nerve after making 3 bogey's around the turn to make a two putt par at the 18th for 69 -10 which was just enough for the win, after it looked like Rory and Shane Lowry were going to battle it out.

However after making 5 birdies in a row, Rory made a bogey 5 at the 18th from the back bunker, later Lowry who'd been in the lead all week, went long at the same hole, then splashed his bunker shot out and watched as it ran right off the green into the pond, resulting in a double bogey 6, and a T3 with Rory at -8.   more to follow,,,,,,

Nacho Elvira came out on top with a nerveless display during a roller coaster final round to claim his third DP World Tour title at the 2026 Dubai Invitational

No less than five players shared the lead on a chaotic Sunday at Dubai Creek Resort, where overnight leader Elvira cruised into a three-shot lead following a third birdie of the day at the seventh.

He left the door ajar when finishing his front nine with successive bogeys as Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Daniel Hillier and Marcus Armitage joined the Spaniard at the summit at -9 down the final stretch.

Lowry made his move with a birdie at the 15th, only to double bogey the last and spectacularly fall out of contention.

Hillier was the clubhouse leader at -9 but Elvira carded his first birdie of the back nine at the 17th to earn a one-shot lead down the last and calmly rolled a final par for a brilliant victory.

"It means the world," the 38-year-old said. "If you told me on Tuesday that I'd be winning this tournament I'd have never believed you.

"It's a dream come true, especially having the family here. I've always dreamed to have my kids walking up to me with a win and anything that happens after this, nothing compares to this.

"I knew at some point it was going to be difficult, especially with the great players playing in front of me. I somehow managed to make a par on ten, managed somehow to make a par on 11 and I guess I calmed down a little after this and stayed patient.

"To be honest with you, I wasn't nervous until the very last putt - the one-footer I had for the win. I knew what I needed to do, I knew I needed to be patient.

"I think there are so many positives from this week and I couldn't be more happier."

Frenchman Julien Guerrier bounced back from a double bogey at the second with seven birdies to sit in a share of third at -8 alongside Spain's David Puig, McIlroy and Lowry.

Armitage double-bogeyed the last to join Matt Wallace and Dane Thorbjørn Olesen at -6 while France's Antoine Rozner and South African duo Thriston Lawrence and Dylan Frittelli were one shot further back -5 to wrap up the top ten.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)