By Kent Gray
So Rory McIlroy slept well then.

Five birdies in his seven second round makeup holes early Saturday – before many folk had even contemplated their first leisurely morning cuppa – saw the Northern Irishman steam into the lead at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

The 29-year-old wrapped up a sizzling eight-under 64 with three successive birdies from the 16th to back up his opening 65 in a display of low scoring that almost defies belief.

He’ll take a two stroke cushion over former Ryder Cup pal Jamie Donaldson into moving day proper and the way his comeback is going from a prolonged winter break to reboot his game, you’ve got to think a third Dallah trophy is his to lose, maybe even the tournament scoring record jointly held by Thomas Bjorn (2001), Stephen Gallacher (2013) and McIlroy himself (2015).

McIlroy is already further in the red through 36 holes than eight previous champions achieved with 72 holes. Today’s pros really are playing a different game from their predecessors, much less us mere weekend warriors.

“I didn’t really have a score in mind or anything. I just wanted to go out there and play a good seven holes and hopefully get myself into contention for the last couple of rounds. Sort of did that and maybe a little bit more and it’s nice to go into the weekend in the lead,” said McIlroy (-15) who will tee it up in the third round at 12.50pm with Donaldson (-13) and China’s Haotong Li (-12) as the European Tour send the cut survivors out in threeballs from two tees to make up for Friday’s lost time.

“I knew with the condition this morning, there was chances out there, obviously with the two par 5s and 17. But obviously to take care of those and birdie a couple others, yeah, to finish 5-under for my last seven was a nice way to finish this morning.”

The early morning conditions, thankfully with no hint of the forecast fog that had delayed the start of play Friday by 2h 50m and forced the second round to spill over into Saturday, were certainly condusive to scoring.

“Especially with the greens being in the morning, they are just a bit better. So if anything, it was nice to stop yesterday and get back again this morning. The greens were pure and just gave myself chances. Was able to convert a few,” McIlroy continued.

To emphasise the ridiculously low scoring, the cut was made at a record -5, two shots lower than in 2001, 2007 and 2013. It clearly wasn’t lost on recent BMW SA Open winner Chris Paisley who is safe at -10 but impressed nonetheless.

A total of 70 players survived to fight the weekend with MENA Tour amateur Todd Clements, Ryder Cupper Thomas Pieters and two-time champion Gallacher among those to squeeze in on the bubble. Many names weren’t so fortunate: Matthew Fitzpatrick, Ryder Cup hopeful Paul Dunne, Lee Westwood and former major champions Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els and Paul Lawrie all missed by a shot.

Bjorn and Colin Montgomerie (both -3) are also gone along with Clement’s MENA Tour buddies Jamie Elson and Luke Joy (-2) and Dubai amateur Rayhan Thomas who struggled to a 77 on Saturday morning after his opening 73 but will take much from the experience, including a practice hit with McIlroy on Tuesday.

Thomas was a combined +6 to finish second to last in 131st place, one spot above 2011 Open champion and MENA Tour patron Darren Clarke (75-77 for +8) who’s struggles obviously continue.