Hero Dubai Desert Classic - Day two digest

Everything you need to know from the second round at Emirates Golf Club.

Ewen Ferguson made the most of some good fortune, Tyrrell Hatton targeted victory in an "iconic event" and Laurie Canter benefitted from some help from a Ryder Cup star.

Here is everything you need to know from round two at Emirates Golf Club.

Ewen benefits from Fergie Time fortune

Scotland's Ewen Ferguson looked to have missed out on a chance to claim the outright lead when he stood on the 17th tee still two behind Daniel Hillier. The New Zealander's 11-under-par halfway total had held firm for most of the day but Ferguson holed a 30-footer for birdie at the 17th to get within one then saw his second to the par-five last clatter off the stand behind the green and bounce back to five feet, with the subsequent eagle giving him a 65 and 12-under halfway total. “I think I played well,” said Ferguson. “I thought (on the last) I'm just going to go to the back and even if I have to go in the drop zone, I'm just going to splash it out. If I had a 15-footer on the last, I would have been fine with that. Still would have made that for a good day, but a wee bit of luck goes a long way. Yeah, 36 holes played, leading so far is great. It's nice to be doing well, and as big as this is, some of the players that are playing, it's really, really cool, and I'm proud of myself.”

Hatton keen to equal Rahm at 'iconic event'

Tyrrell Hatton is keen to add an “iconic event” to his CV this weekend. The Englishman carded eight birdies against a single bogey in a second-round 65 to sit four off the lead. Hatton would equal Jon Rahm's record of five Rolex Series victories if he were to win on Sunday and was delighted to have boosted his chances. “It was a good day,” he said. “I'm in a pretty steady spot. I'd love to go and have another good round tomorrow and give myself a chance going into Sunday. I feel like this is one of those events that you would love to have on your CV - it's an iconic event for the DP World Tour, and yeah, I'd love to give myself a chance.”

Canter on the charge after Howell help

Laurie Canter says some putting advice from former Ryder Cup star David Howell has been helping him on the greens. A second straight round of 68 at Emirates Golf Club saw England's Canter reach the halfway stage on eight under par. Afterwards Canter praised Howell, who won five times on the DP World Tour during his career, for bringing the enjoyment back to his putting. “I asked Howler, he's a member of the same golf club as me," he said. "I felt like if I could pick his brains and how he thought about putting, if any of that rubbed off on me. I've always kind of had the mindset of I need to practice it, particularly enjoyed it. I've just asked questions about how he thinks, how I practice, just asked him loads of questions. I've tried to listen to it and I think we just want to have fun. I think it's his first time coaching someone, so he's probably learning a bit. It is rubbing off on me. I enjoy my practice sessions with him, and I'm enjoying putting at the moment. It's obviously gone well in the first two days.”

Ferguson chips in... eventually

Good things come to those that wait. Ferguson was eventually rewarded for his patience.

Nakajima denied

The golfing gods weren't as kind to Keita Nakajima.