Storm fails to make the cut at Dubai Desert Classic

The Hartlepool golfer scored a round of 73, one over par, and reached halfway in 114th place at the Emirates Golf Club.

Storm, starting at the 10th yesterday, made the worst possible start when he shot a bogey six at his first hole.

He went out to five over par for the tournament when he bogeyed the par four 12th.

There was a birdie putt to cheer at the 190-yard par three 15th but he needed a run of red numbers to have any chance of qualifying for the last two days.

The 36-year-old bogeyed the second hole but birdied the 451 yard fifth to sign for a 73 and a mid-point total of 148 (four over).

World number one Rory McIlroy produced a superb bogey-free eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead over Scotland’s Marc Warren at 14 under.

McIlroy underlined his class by closing with three successive birdies at the Emirates Golf Club, where he recorded his maiden professional victory in 2009.

“You can’t ask for much more – bogey-free round with eight birdies,” said McIlroy who has fellow Irishman Graeme McDowell just two shots back.

“I saw a stat that since the first round of The Open, I’ve played 45 rounds and a third of them were 66 or better, which just shows you the level that I am at. I’ve put the work in and I’ve worked hard; I continue to work hard and this is the result, which is nice.”