Rory McIlroy one off the lead at the DP World Tour Championship with Shane Lowry well-placed

Rory McIlroy is one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the DP World Tour Championship after carding a three-under 69, while Shane Lowry is also within striking distance of the summit.

McIlroy and England's Tyrrell Hatton, who was paired with the Co Down man on Friday, are tied for second place with both on eight under.

Antoine Rozner of France moved to the top of the leaderboard after a bogey-free 65 on the Jumeirah Golf Estates course.

Tom McKibbin is also within the top 20 going into Saturday's third round.

LEADERBOARD

Having shared the overnight lead with Hatton, McIlroy made a storming start to his second round, birdying three of his first four holes.

After picking up another shot on seven, the world number three lost momentum with bogeys on eight and ten, but finished on a more positive note with a birdie on 18 that keeps him right in contention.

McIlroy is seeking his third successive Race to Dubai victory and can only be unseated should his closest pursuer Thriston Lawrence win the tournament with McIlroy himself failing to place inside the top-11.

Meanwhile, Lowry is tied for fifth, two shots behind McIlroy after a much-improved round. Having carded a 71 on Thursday, a 67 featuring seven birdies and only blemished by back-to-back bogeys on eight and nine lifted the Offaly man up to six under overall.

McKibbin is three shots further back after the Antrim native's 70. He birdied two, four, seven and eight on the front nine but bogeyed six and nine. A quieter back nine saw the Holywood GC member bogey 12 but recover to birdie 15.