Nicolai Højgaard surges to summit with blistering second round in Dubai

Nicolai Højgaard continued his love affair at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he opened up a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship.

The Dane is making his third appearance at the season-ending event on the Earth Course, where he came fourth on his debut in 2021 before lifting the trophy two years later.

Højgaard began the day three shots behind leader Michael Kim, but an eagle and five birdies saw him catapult to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a flawless 65 - the lowest round of the week so far - to reach 12 under par.

There is a stellar chasing pack in hot pursuit, with his 2023 European Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy sat alongside Daniel Hillier and fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at nine under.

"It's great to be back, it's one of my favourite tournaments and courses to play," Højgaard said.

"I stayed really patient again. Yesterday was a really good round and I feel that I actually played a little bit better today. It's just staying patient.

"There are plenty of chances out there, but it's easy to make a silly bogey out of being too aggressive so trying to navigate my way around there a little bit. Staying patient has been the highlight so far."

How it stands with 36 holes to play at the season finale in Dubai 📊#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/aFkyDMeU1W

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 14, 2025

Højgaard made a fast start with an opening birdie before leaving just four feet at the par-five second with his approach.

Just as Kim sent his tee-shot into the steep fairway bunker at the first, the Dane rolled in the eagle putt to join him in the lead at eight under.

Rose joined the pair at the summit with a huge 65 foot birdie putt at the sixth before Kim dropped out of the leadership group with an opening bogey.

However, Fleetwood followed Højgaard's lead at the second with an eagle, albeit his was from 61 feet to jump ahead on his own at nine under.

Rose completed a hat-trick of birdies at the seventh to reach nine under, while Højgaard made it three European Ryder Cup stars at the top with a birdie at the fifth.

The Dane became the first player to reach double figures with a birdie at the seventh and when he holed another to reach the turn in 30, Højgaard was two shots clear at 11 under.

Another Ryder Cup star in Lowry joined Fleetwood and Rose at nine under thanks to a fifth birdie of the day at the 11th.

Hillier chipped in for birdie at the 12th to join the chasing pack, with Neergaard-Petersen and Laurie Canter also climbing to nine under.