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Dubai - Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy achieved separation from main rival Danny Willett by two shots in the second round of the European Tour season finale on Friday.
McIlroy, bidding to top the tour for the third time in four years, carded consecutive 68s to be at 8-under-par 136, three off Emiliano Grillo's clubhouse lead in the World Tour Championship.
On a day when most players went low, McIlroy could only match his opening round, including five birdies, and one bogey on the par-3 6th. He birdied only one of the four par-5s at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Meanwhile, Willett, tied with McIlroy in the first round, shot a 2-under 70. The Englishman started well with birdies on Nos. 2-3, but bogeyed No 5, and No 16 immediately after a birdie on 15. He needed to hole a 15-footer for par on the last and keep his hopes alive.
Grillo posted a bogey-free 8-under 64, starting and finishing the day's best round with birdies for the Argentine to reach 11 under overall.
American Patrick Reed was two behind after five birdies in his last six holes to close with a 65.
Reed finished second to Sweden's Kristoffer Broberg in the BMW Masters in Shanghai last weekend, and has four top-10 finishes in his last four starts.
At 9 under overall, Reed was one shot ahead of Charl Schwartzel, who also made a bogey-free 65 with four birdies in the last five holes.
