McIlroy, Hatton share 36-hole lead at World Tour Championship

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Rory McIlroy recovered from a back-nine wobble to birdie No. 18 and share the 36-hole lead at the season-ending World Tour Championship on Friday, leaving him well-placed to win a record-tying eighth Race to Dubai golf title.

McIlroy birdied four of his first 10 holes in the second round and was blemish-free until making three bogeys in a six-hole stretch from No. 12 at Jumeirah Golf Estates, which played tough because of a stiff breeze, thick rough and dry, slippery greens.

The world No. 2 regained his composure to reach the green in two at the par-5 last hole and roll in a 6-foot birdie putt for a 2-under 70, joining Tyrrell Hatton (69) on 5-under par for the week.

"Once you do start putting yourself out of position on this golf course, this set-up, these conditions, it starts to get very, very difficult," said McIlroy, who acknowledged he began to get frustrated with the Earth course that, in his view, is playing as hard as ever on his 17th trip here.

"I feel like I salvaged the day a bit with that birdie."

As well as attempting to win the tournament for a fourth time, McIlroy is seeking to move past Eugenio Chacarra in the points list to secure the year-long Race to Dubai title, which crowns the No. 1 player on the European tour.

Chacarra is still in the fight, pumping both fists after chipping in from just off the green at No. 18 to complete a birdie-birdie finish and a round of 71. The Spaniard was four shots behind McIlroy and declaring: "I like how I'm hitting it.

"If I can clean up the card a little," Chacarra added, "I like my chance on the weekend."

Chacarra - in his rookie full season on the tour - leads McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings by nearly 534 points. On offer this week is 2,000 points for the winner, 1,335 for second place, 752 for third place, then fewer and fewer for the minor places.

Patrick Reed was the third realistic title contender - at No. 3 in the standings - but the American looks to be out of the running after a second-round 77, featuring a back-nine 42. Reed was 8 over for the tournament.

Still just about in contention is Jon Rahm, who needs to win and for McIlroy and Chacarra to finish way down the leaderboard. Rahm, the winner in Abu Dhabi last week, shot 71 for the second straight day and was three strokes off the lead.