Francesco Molinari tops leaderboard in Dubai

Battling windy conditions, the Italian recorded eight birdies against just one bogey, securing a two-stroke advantage. This performance marks a significant turnaround for the 2018 Open Champion, who admitted feeling "rusty" during his tied-47th finish last week. Molinari credited his putter for the score, noting that clutch saves kept his momentum alive during difficult mid-round stretches.

Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg holds solo second place following a five-under 67, highlighted by an eagle at the third. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach and South Africa’s JC Ritchie share third at four-under, as both men managed eagles on the tenth. Play was eventually suspended due to darkness with nine competitors remaining on the course. Molinari remains focused, aiming to maintain this form and claim his first DP World Tour victory since his win at Carnoustie.