DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

For a spell on Friday afternoon the organisers of the Dubai Desert Classic had cause for panic. Jon Rahm had already tumbled out of the tournament after 36 holes, Viktor Hovland was heading the same way and Rory McIlroy was dangerously close to the cut line.

Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland missed the cut and Rory McIlroy was forced to battle to make the weekend as the headline acts struggled at the Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy charged from 10 shots behind last year and will need a repeat performance if he is to win tournament for a third year in a row

While Scotland's Ewen Ferguson has established a one-stroke lead at the Dubai Desert Classic after solid rounds of 67 and 65 pushed him to 12 under par, Jon Rahm of Spain and Viktor Hovland of Norway were among those who missed the 36-hole cut Friday.

Dubai-based Scot Ewen Ferguson leads way on 12 under while Jon Rahm’s struggles cause a surprise after dismal 77.

While Scotland's Ewen Ferguson has established a one-stroke lead at the Dubai Desert Classic after solid rounds of 67 and 65 pushed him to 12 under par, Jon Rahm of Spain and Viktor Hovland of ...

Really? You’re hearing that often of late, though, at least on the pro side. Golf’s slow. Golf’s stale. Golf’s dry. Golf’s not football, basketball or baseball. Golf’s uninteresting. The thoughts have been hammered home, like a tee through turf. You, the golf lover — you’re on a golf website, after all — are perhaps feeling lost.

Rory McIlroy made a slam-dunk hole-in-one on Thursday during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill's par-3 15th.

Rory McIlroy recently revealed the three goals he aims to achieve for the rest of his career. McIlroy has had a splendid golf career after he turned professional in 2007, that includes 41 titles, 26 of which came on the PGA Tour. The Irish player has four Major championship titles to his name except for the Masters tournament.

Three-time DP World Tour victor Ewen Ferguson the halfway leader in Dubai after remarkable final hole; defending champion Rory McIlroy nine adrift; watch the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday on Sky Sports Golf,