Rory McIlroy surrendered his lead at the Dubai Invitational after a disastrous second round. The world No. 2 carded a three-over 74, finding the water four times at Dubai Creek. This collapse dropped him into a tie for fifth place, erasing his overnight advantage.

Shane Lowry and Spain's Nacho Elvira capitalized on McIlroy's struggles. Both players shot three-under 68s to surge into a share of the lead at five under par. Lowry, McIlroy's Ryder Cup teammate, gained six strokes on the initial leader to position himself for a weekend charge.

McIlroy's round unraveled with three bogeys over his final five holes, including back-to-back dropped shots on 17 and 18. This performance stands in stark contrast to his opening round and highlights the tournament's challenging conditions. The Friday result sets up a dramatic third round on Saturday.