Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic. Ewen Ferguson was taking full advantage.

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson on Friday, while Jon Rahm missed the cut.

Fortune favours Ewen Ferguson as Scot surges into Dubai Desert Classic lead - A lucky bounce off the grandstand on the 18th helped Ferguson head the field by a stroke, but Jon Rahm missed the cut

Three-time DP World Tour victor Ewen Ferguson the halfway leader in Dubai after remarkable final hole; defending champion Rory McIlroy nine adrift; watch the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday on Sky Sports Golf,

Rory McIlroy will need a spectacular weekend to win a third straight Dubai Desert Classic title after slipping nine shots behind halfway leader Ewen Ferguson

Rory McIlroy believes he still has a "decent chance" of defending his Hero Dubai Desert Classic crown despite being eight shots behind leader Ewen Ferguson.

For a spell on Friday afternoon the organisers of the Dubai Desert Classic had cause for panic. Jon Rahm had already tumbled out of the tournament after 36 holes, Viktor Hovland was heading the same way and Rory McIlroy was dangerously close to the cut line.

Ewen Ferguson took the spotlight at the Dubai Desert Classic, leading after the second round. Ranked No. 141, Ferguson edged ahead after an advantageous shot at the 18th hole. Meanwhile, top-ranked stars Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut,

Rory McIlroy is not playing at the level we have come to expect, but has precedence to lean on at the Hero Desert Dubai Classic.

If Rory McIlroy is to emulate the history of the likes of Ernie Els and Sir Nick Faldo, he will have to repeat his own history here at the Desert Classic.