Antoine Rozner posted a stunning seven under par round of 65 to move into the lead at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The Frenchman, who has a good record in Dubai, having won the 2020 Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, leads by one on nine under par with a stacked leaderboard in pursuit, including nearest challengers Tyrrell Hatton, of England, and Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy one shot back.

“I putted really well. It’s one of those days where everything goes in, and I had a ton of fun out there. I think with my caddie we had a really good fun, it was one of those days where everything goes right and took advantage of it,” Rozner said.

Three-time DP World Tour winner Rozner was one under through his first eight holes, before catching fire from the ninth where he reeled off a trio of birdies, before adding another three in a row from the 14th to move into the 36-hole lead for the fourth time in his DP World Tour career.

Victory for Rozner on the Earth Course could also see him climb as high as second on the Race to Dubai and secure dual membership with the PGA TOUR for 2025.

Four-time Major Champion McIlroy posted a three under par 69, which could have been one better had a closing eagle putt not slid by, to strengthen his grip on the Harry Vardon Trophy.

The 17-time DP World Tour winner was four under through seven holes of his second round and threatening to open a comprehensive lead, but bogeys at the eighth and tenth opened the door for Rozner to seize the advantage, with his closing birdie earning him a round of 69.

The Northern Irishman leads the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and with South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence — the only man able to deny him a sixth Race to Dubai title — nine shots off the lead on level par, McIlroy is in line to be crowned European No. 1 for the sixth time and move alongside the legendary Seve Ballesteros.

McIlroy said: “A little disappointed that I didn’t kick on after such a great start, four under through seven. I just started to miss a few fairways around the turn, and not by much either, but the rough is so thick, and you lose all control of your golf ball if you hit it in there.”

Hatton matched playing partner McIlroy’s round of 69, bouncing back from a bogey at the fourth with birdies at the sixth, eighth, tenth and 15th to remain in the mix with two rounds to play. The Englishman has twice been a runner-up in the DP World Tour Championship in 2016 and 2022, and also finished second in last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, the first of the two events in the DP World Tour Play-Offs.

“Pretty similar thing to yesterday, to be honest, in terms of just not feeling very comfortable. Just every shot felt like a bit of a struggle, I guess. Three under is a pretty acceptable score, all things considered,” Hatton said.

Chilean Joaquin Niemann sits in fourth place on seven under par, with Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard, Irishman Shane Lowry and Swede Jesper Svensson all posting five under par rounds of 67 to join Japan’s Keita Nakajima in a tie for fifth on six under.

The English trio of Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Wallace and Paul Waring are a shot further back in tied ninth, with the latter continuing his quest for back-to-back Rolex Series titles after his victory at Yas Links last week.

ABU DHABI: The UAE’s Commando Group took the lead on the penultimate day of the 16th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held at Mubadala Arena.

Friday’s competition saw the finals of the purple and brown belts and the qualifying rounds for the black belt category. Emirati MOD UAE finished in second place, and American Checkmat International secured third. The finals for the black belt divisions will take place on Saturday night.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “I congratulate the champions who made it to the podium on Friday. This success is the result of hard work, dedication to training and thorough preparation. I’m confident that this new generation of athletes will continue the journey of achievements, supported by the UAE’s wise leadership that provides everything needed for their success.”

The Emirati athletes’ total of six medals on Friday in the professional competitions (purple and brown belts) included two golds, one silver and three bronzes. Zayed Al-Shamsi from Al-Wahda Club, competing in the purple belt category, achieved the gold medal in the 56 kg weight category. His club colleague Saeed Al-Kubaisi, competing in the brown belt category, also secured the gold medal in the 85 kg weight category.

Hadi Abbas from Al-Ain Club earned the silver medal in the 62 kg purple belt category. Meanwhile, Mohammed Saeed Al-Ketbi, Fahad Al-Hammadi and Maid Al-Shehhi, all from Baniyas Club, claimed bronze medals in the 56 kg purple belt, 69 kg purple belt and 56 kg brown belt categories, respectively.

The black belt finals for the professional category take place at Mubadala Arena on Saturday, with a group of champions from countries including the UAE, Brazil, the US, Portugal, the Philippines and Russia, competing. The black belt finals will be held from 6 p.m. 9 p.m. (UAE time), followed by the champions’ crowning ceremony.