"The conditions were getting a little trickier" - Rory McIlroy maintains solo lead at 2024 Dubai Invitational with a solid performance in Round 2

Rory McIlroy kicked off his 2024 season at the Dubai Invitational tournament. The Northern Irishman started strongly and maintained his lead after the second round.

The 24-time PGA Tour winner secured a 70-under-par score at the Dubai Creek Resort on day two. McIlroy bounced back from a challenging quadruple-bogey and windy conditions at the venue.

After the second round, McIlroy, who has a two-stroke lead on the leaderboard, acknowledged the challenges of maintaining his position and entering the weekend as the frontrunner at the Dubai Invitational.

Rory McIlroy said (via NUCLR Golf):

“Played not too dissimilarly to the way I played yesterday. I maybe holed a couple more putts yesterday. But the conditions were getting a little trickier. Wind was up. Greens were firm and a couple of miscues on the 8th hole.”

“I felt like I did well just to get my head back into it and play some solid golf on the way in, and everyone seemed to find it a little more difficult today than yesterday. So it's nice to go into the weekend still with the lead,” he added.

McIlroy successfully concluded his bogey-free first round with a 9-under 62 score on Thursday, 11th January.

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Rory McIlroy reportedly made changes to his schedule to participate in more events before the Masters

Although Rory McIlroy has won 24 times on the PGA Tour, he is yet to win his first green jacket.

To date, his best position at the Masters Tournament is his runner-up finish in the 2022 season. His other notable finish was his solo fourth position at the 2015 season.

The 34-year-old golfer is reportedly focused on securing his first-ever victory at Augusta National Golf Club in 2024. Rory McIlroy has planned a longer schedule, aiming for the Masters to be his ninth or tenth tournament of the year.

Ahead of his Dubai Invitational participation, McIlroy spoke about the same. He said (via mirror.co.uk):

"This year, in fact, I’m going to play more before The Masters. It will be my ninth or 10th event of the year. Previously, it’s been my sixth or seventh. I’ll hopefully be a bit sharper and know exactly where my game really is.”

Currently, the World No. 2 is poised to win the Dubai Invitational. McIlroy will also look to defend his title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on January 18th.