Sullivan staying calm in Dubai

Andy Sullivan says he needs to keep patient over the weekend if he is going to stay ahead in the DP World Tour Championship.

The Englishman matched his opening-round 66 on Friday to move to -12 for the tournament and the 29-year-old sits top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the event at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

Sullivan carded six birdies on the second day and after 36-holes he has made just one bogey, which has helped to open up a one stroke advantage over second-place Emiliano Grillo.

American Patrick Reed, who was a rare positive for the US in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles last year, is alone in third place on -9 after signing for a seven-under-par 65.

Rory McIlroy is one of three players currently four shots off the pace after the former world number one made five birdies and one bogey for a second round of 68.

Sullivan is the man to catch at the moment, though, and the overnight leader is hoping he can stay composed over the weekend and grab his fourth win of the year, having triumphed in the South African Open Championship, Joburg Open and Portugal Masters.

“Just another two rounds of golf, that’s the way I have to treat it,” he said. “I think today I handled it really well. I stayed patient, tried to play within myself and that’s the way it needs to be over the next two days.”

Justin Rose is in a tie for seventh, alongside the likes of Martin Kaymer and Matthew Fitzpatrick, after the Englishman moved onto -7 after a six-under 66.

Tagged Andy Sullivan