McIlroy has appetite for Desert victory

Rory McIlroy overcome a stomach complaint to retain his lead entering the final two rounds of the 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy celebrated an opening round 63 with a seafood takeaway but then endured a restless night before battling hard to remain top of the leaderboard by producing a birdie on the last hole in a round of 70 for an 11-under par tally.

“I’ve been in this position before and I’ve went on to win,” he said. “I’ve led from the front quite well in tournaments that I have won. I feel like I am still playing well and know the course as well as anyone.”

After playing the first two rounds in the company of Tiger Woods, McIlroy will today be alongside Brooks Koepka, who won four times last a year on the secondary Challenge Tour.

The 23-year old kick-started his round of 65 for a 10-under par tally with three straight birdies.

Damien McGrane is among three players next best at eight under, with his efforts this week rekindling memories of his 2008 third round pairing with Woods when he went one shot better than the American.

And while McGrane looks to win for only a second time he has support in McIlroy who also recalled the events of six years ago.

“Damien’s played well here before and I remember the year he played two rounds with Tiger, so it’s good to see him up there,” said McIlroy.

And former Masters winner Fred Couples had Co. Down ‘stand-in’ caddy Stephen Deane to ‘thank’ for missing out being seated on the 50-yard line for tomorrow night’s Superbowl

Couples’ beloved Seattle Seahawks face the Denver Broncos in tomorrow showpiece of the NFL season.

Deane is the head pro at the Emirates Club and is filling in this week as Couples’ normal caddy could not make the trip to Dubai.

But Deane helped steep the 1992 Masters winner to a round of 70 for a three under par total.

“I have two 50-yard line seats and here I am standing here having birdied the last two holes, so you can call me stupid, please call me stupid,” said Couples.

“I tried to bogey 16 and I did and I tried to bogey the par five 13th but I just couldn’t butcher enough holes, so I am going to have to make money now selling the tickets. This would have been my first Super Bowl. I paid a lot of money for them and it’s my team playing so I’m gutted.”

And gutted too were Shane Lowry and Peter Lawrie, having missed the cut in all three ‘Desert Swing’ events.