The path is clear for Rory McIlroy to clinch the year-long Race to Dubai title and be crowned the European tour's best player for a sixth time.

The Northern Irishman is also well in contention to win the season-ending World Tour Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

McIlroy hit a fairway wood from 265 yards to 15 feet at No.18 and two-putted for a closing birdie in his second round on Friday, giving him a three-under 69 that left him one stroke off the lead held by France's Antoine Rozner (65) on nine-under par.

McIlroy was tied with England's Tyrrell Hatton (69) for second place in the tournament but his lead in the year-long Race to Dubai standings now looks impregnable.

Thriston Lawrence is the only player who can stop McIlroy winning that title — and to do that he needs a victory. That appeared unlikely, with a 71 leaving Lawrence at level par for the week and nine off the lead at halfway.

"At this point, I'm just trying to win the golf tournament," McIlroy said, "and if I win the golf tournament, then everything else that happens alongside that is nice."

Rozner, ranked No. 154, was the surprise leader after making six birdies in an eight-hole span from the ninth.

The Frenchman is one of many players in the 50-man field seeking a high finish to secure one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer for next season.

Winning the tournament will guarantee that bonus prize, so it's potentially a life-changing weekend for players like Rozner.

"I need a really good weekend for that," said Rozner, who won the last of his three European tour titles in Mauritius in December 2022.

"I'm going to try to focus on having two solid days. See how it goes at the end.

"I think if I can have a chance on Sunday to either win it or get one of those cards, it would be great."

Adam Scott, the leading Australian challenger is tied for 12th, five shots off the pace at four under after a second-round 71.

Min Woo Lee is a couple of shots further back at two under after a bogey six at the last left him shooting a level-par 72.