Rory McIlroy relieved after scraping his way to the cut in poor Dubai display
RORY McILROY came close to missing the cut at the Dubai Desert Classic for the first since he played at The Emirates Club as a teenager in 2008.
Rory McIlroy's last major championship win came back in 2014
Error-strewn golf saw the world No2 make five bogeys in 11 holes and in danger of carding his worst round at one of his favourite courses.
But the Ulsterman staged a late rally with birdies at his last three holes, and although he heads into the weekend six shots behind Spanish leader Rafa Cabrera Bello, McIlroy did not rule out winning the final leg of Europe's Desert Swing for a third time.
"I have made up bigger deficits before and won," he said after holing a tricky 15ft putt on the final green.
"And while I struggled early on today I bounced back well. I persevered and making those birdies on the last three holes have given me good momentum going into the weekend. I just need to make a fast start."
Cabrera Bello had a one-shot lead over four-time Major champion Ernie Els and English Ryder Cup hopefuls Danny Willett and Chris Wood.