Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who despite his first hole-in-one in tournament play, endured frustrating second days at the DP World Tour championship in Dubai with the day belonging to defending champion Henrik Stenson who will take a two-shot lead into Saturday.

Off the back of a birdie on the 17th McIlroy found the water with the driver from the 18th tee, finishing with a second round of 70.

Having shot a round of 66 Stenson rose four places in the leaderboard, being trailed by McIlroy, Richie Ramsey and Danny Willett , all two shots in arrears.

Below them, yesterday’s joint leader Lowry joins five others tied for third after he shot a second round of 71.

Although after three early bogeys he did well to grind out his score with a birdie on the ninth and a spectacular hole in one on the 13th when his six iron took a couple of bounces before disappearing into the cup. Sadly for the Clara man the BMW prize for a hole in one came at the par-three 17th.

McIlroy birdied the first, 14th, 15th and 17th, yet bogeys on the 12th and 16th slowed him down.

Talking after the round McIlroy explained that “you’re going to get rounds like that when you’re coming back from a little bit of a lay-off, but I felt like I did well. I’m still pretty close to the lead and there’s still 36 holes to go so I’m in a good position.

“The birdies on the 14th and 15th were nice and I had a nice second shot on the 16th and just ran the put a little but it was nice to bounce back on the 17th and I felt like I had a really good drive on the last but it just overran into the water.

“I think it’s just about sticking to what you’ve been doing and not second guessing yourself but I started hitting better shots on the back nine and I’m sure tomorrow will be good.”

Lowry’s hole-in-one, from 183 yards, was his first on the European Tour and took him just one off the lead at the time, but the world number 52 was unable to pick up any further shots on the last five holes.

“It was a beautiful shot, a perfect number for my six iron,” said Lowry, who needs a good finish to move into the world’s top 50 and secure his place in next year’s Masters.

“It’s my first in tournament play and only my second ever so it was pretty exciting. It was hard to go on and play the next hole after that.

“I am still in the tournament and I suppose if you had given me that on Thursday I would have taken it.”

Stenson felt like he had “hit the wall” at the end of a long season, but still managed to claim the halfway lead in Dubai.

“There’s still a lot of golf to play and I’m really happy with how I closed this round,” said Stenson, who was 25 under par in winning by six shots last year.

“Around the 12th hole I felt like I was running out of steam. It was difficult mentally from there on. I had to really focus hard and drag myself over the finish line.

“It’s hot and sticky and even though I’m drinking well and getting plenty of energy, I just felt like I hit the wall on 12. If it’s one or two holes left, you normally feel like, ‘okay, I can hang on’. But it was a bit of an uphill (struggle) from there. I managed to finish in good style anyway so I’m pleased with that.”

Graeme McDowell will start the weekend on two under after carding a two-under 70, while the only way is up for his fellow Ulsterman Michael Hoey, who is joint last on seven over in the non-cut event after he carded a 78.