Nicolai Højgaard continued his love affair at Jumeirah Golf Estates as he opened up a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the 2025 DP World Tour Championship.
The Dane is making his third appearance at the season-ending event on the Earth Course, where he came fourth on his debut in 2021 before lifting the trophy two years later.
Højgaard began the day three shots behind leader Michael Kim, but an eagle and five birdies saw him catapult to the top of the leaderboard thanks to a flawless 65 – the lowest round of the week so far – to reach 12 under par.
There is a stellar chasing pack in hot pursuit, with his 2023 European Ryder Cup team-mates Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy sat alongside Daniel Hillier and fellow Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at nine under.
“It’s great to be back, it’s one of my favourite tournaments and courses to play,” Højgaard said.
“I stayed really patient again. Yesterday was a really good round and I feel that I actually played a little bit better today. It’s just staying patient.
“There are plenty of chances out there, but it’s easy to make a silly bogey out of being too aggressive so trying to navigate my way around there a little bit. Staying patient has been the highlight so far.
“It suits my eye. You talk about golf courses suiting your eye, I really like it off the tee. It’s a precision course as well, it’s a mix of a driver down to a four-iron and it plays into my strength which is mid-irons.
“It’s just a really good fit for me and I’ve played some really good golf again so hopefully we can keep it up.”
Højgaard made a fast start with an opening birdie before leaving just four feet at the par-five second with his approach.
Just as Kim sent his tee-shot into the steep fairway bunker at the first, the Dane rolled in the eagle putt to join him in the lead at eight under.
Rose joined the pair at the summit with a huge 65-foot birdie putt at the sixth before Kim dropped out of the leadership group with an opening bogey.
However, Fleetwood followed Højgaard’s lead at the second with an eagle, albeit his was from 61 feet to jump ahead on his own at nine under.
Rose completed a hat-trick of birdies at the seventh to reach nine under, while Højgaard made it three European Ryder Cup stars at the top with a birdie at the fifth.
The Dane became the first player to reach double figures with a birdie at the seventh and when he holed another to reach the turn in 30, Højgaard was two shots clear at 11 under.
Another Ryder Cup star in Lowry joined Fleetwood and Rose at nine under thanks to a fifth birdie of the day at the 11th.
Hillier chipped in for birdie at the 12th to join the chasing pack, with Neergaard-Petersen and Laurie Canter also climbing to nine under.
Neergaard-Petersen, who almost aced the 13th before eagling the next, went four under through three holes with a birdie at the 15th to jump ahead on his own in second at ten under.
Højgaard drained his fifth birdie of the day at the 14th to restore his two-shot lead at 12 under. His advantage then stretched to three when Neergaard-Petersen bogeyed the last to slip back.
Rose and Neergaard-Petersen, who were playing partners on day two, both carded 67s as did Irishman Lowry to reach nine under. Defending champion McIlroy came home with a four-under 68 and New Zealand’s Hillier signed for a 69.
Canter, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, Swede Alex Noren and Fleetwood are one shot further back at eight under.
Away from the course, Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta were among the famous faces spotted around Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s Ladies Day celebration, where ladies can enjoy two complimentary drinks from the Zonin Bar while stocks last, free golf lessons on the driving range from 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm alongside DP World Tour players, trick shot shows, glitter face painting, and live music from LDN Romantic after play (approximately 5pm). The day kicks off with a free mat pilates class with REVIVE PILATES at 9am, followed by complimentary coffee.
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