Until the dispute between LIV Golf and the DP World Tour is settled in court, tension will riddle the range at most events throughout the season.
Exhibit A: Henrik Stenson, who lost his position as European Ryder Cup captain once he joined the Saudi-backed LIV Series, will be paired with Tyrrell Hatton, and Ryder Cup veteran, and Luke Donald, the man who replaced Stenson as captain, on Sunday for the third round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
All three players are 2 under through two days and eight back of Thomas Pieters, Richard Bland and Michael Thorbjornsen.
Dubai Desert Classic: Leaderboard, round three tee times
Thorbjornsen, a junior at Stanford and Massachusetts native, was a Golfweek 2022 All-American honorable mention. At the ’22 Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour, an event played down the road from where he grew up, Thorbjornsen finished solo fourth.
Rory McIlroy didn’t have his best stuff Saturday, making 15 pars, one birdie, one bogey and an eagle to post a day two 2-under 70. He’s tied for seventh, two back of the lead.
On the charge
@McIlroyRory makes eagle at 13. #HeroDDC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/ujU4J5JTak
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 28, 2023
Patrick Reed, who’s been in headlines all week thanks to a viral moment with McIlroy, is also at 8 under. The DP World Tour chose not to pair the old Ryder Cup rivals together for the third round.
A disappointing move for most of the golf community.
Due to weather delays earlier in the week, play will conclude Monday in Dubai.