Cameron Young leads in Dubai as Rory McIlroy fails to fire

Cameron Young has a three-shot lead heading into the third round of the Dubai Desert Classic after a superb 64, but it was another frustrating day for three-time champion Rory McIlroy.

World number 25 Young was eight under for his round. Starting on the back nine, the American showed a good touch around the greens to take advantage of the early morning conditions, going out in 32 thanks to five birdies and no bogeys.

Four more birdies followed on the front nine, with a single bogey to blemish his card at nine, his final hole.

He leads by three from Poland's Adrian Meronk and Andy Sullivan of England, with Danish brothers Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard tied three shots further back alongside Scotland's Richie Ramsay.

World number two McIlroy is three shots further back on four under, nine shots behind the leader, after a frustrating 70 to follow up his opening round 71.

Birdies at two and seven were handed back at eight and nine as the Irish golfer struggled to find the fairway off the tee.

A birdie at the par-five 10th was immediately handed back at the par-three 11th but he got himself back in the red for his round via birdies at 13 and 18.

His Holywood clubmate Tom McKibbin is a shot further back on two under after a round of 70 which featured two bogeys, two birdies and an eagle three at the 13th.

It wasn't to be for Padraig Harrington on his 2024 bow, as he carded a second round 79 for an eight-over 36 hole total, which left him well outside the cut mark.