World No. 2 Rory McIlroy got exactly what he wanted to keep his hopes of a successful title defence alive in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.McIlroy completed a second round of 68 more than an hour before the leaders teed off and headed to the beach hoping not to be facing an insurmountable deficit over the last 36 holes.And although Sergio Garcia and Francesco Molinari both shot 67 to share the halfway lead on nine-under par, McIlroy had not given up hope of coming from eight shots behind to claim a fourth win of the season.If Im within eight or nine shots going into the weekend, I still feel like I have a decent chance, said McIlroy, whose opening 75 was his first over-par score in 29 rounds in the European Tours season finale, an event he has won twice and never finished worse than 11th in in seven appearances.Thursday was just one of those days. I was mentally very flat, still in holiday mode and not quite switched on to what I needed to do. I sort of turned it around today and hopefully can do the same over the weekend.Garcia carded six birdies and one bogey in his 67, which also featured a brilliant par save on the 12th after driving into a bush and being forced to take a penalty drop.I was fortunate a guy from the crowd found it for me and I was able to drop outside the bush, the Ryder Cup star said.I hit a really good shot from there with a seven iron and made a really nice putt. I had a good feeling on that putt. I felt like I was going to make it and it was one of those career fours.Molinari is enjoying arguably the best form of his career after winning the Italian Open in September, finishing sixth in the WGC-HSBC Champions and fourth in the Shriners Open thanks to a closing 61 in Las Vegas.And to make matters even better, the 34-year-olds older brother Edoardo finished joint second in the European Tours qualifying school on Thursday to regain his card for next season.He was actually disappointed not to win it but I told him not to be too greedy, Molinari said.Second is obviously very good for him and its nice to see him back. He did it last year as well but Im sure hell do his best next season not to show up there for a third time. It sounds like hes playing a lot better, so Im expecting good things from him next season.First-round leader Lee Westwood is a shot off the pace after a 70 marred by hitting his approach on the 18th into a water hazard, with Tyrrell Hatton, Joost Luiten, Charl Schwartzel and Bernd Wiesberger all on seven-under.Somebody clicked a camera on the right-hand side and put me off, Westwood said.It happens and you just have to regroup. The pitch shot in was poor, but it was a good two-putt.Im one off the lead and Ive got a good chance. Im happy with the way Im playing and trying to finish off the season strongly.Race to Dubai rivals Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett were both on three under after rounds of 69 and 70 respectively, although Stenson was more concerned with the well-being of a female spectator hit on the head by his tee shot on the 13th.It was a very unfortunate circumstance, said the Open champion, who leads Willett by 299,675 points.I flared my five-iron right and Im standing there thinking Is it going in the bunker or flying over the bunker? and next thing I see it go into the crowd.Unfortunately I hit the lady and she went down, but I had some reports later in the round that she was doing OK. Im just making sure that were going to get her details so I can send her something nice. Sam Mills Saints Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Michael Thomas Womens Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. http://www.shoptheofficialsaints.com/Elite-Willie-Roaf-Saints-Jersey/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Ryan Ramczyk Saints Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Erik McCoy Youth Jersey . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46.TOPEKA, Kan. -- Johnny Gray raced to his third victory of the season Sunday at the NHRA Kansas Nationals to regain the Funny Car points lead. Grey beat Robert Hight in the final round at Heartland Park Topeka for his sixth career victory, finishing in 4.067 seconds at 314.90 mph in a Dodge Avenger. Hight lost traction in his Ford Mustang. "Rob (Wendland, crew chief) gave me a great race car that ran real hard all day," said Gray, who also beat Alexis DeJoria, Del Worsham and defending event winner Jack Beckman. "Sometimes you can win races on an intimidation factor and Rob had her tuned up to where she was a little intimidating today. "Robert had a great race car, too, but they just missed it a little bit. They have aa great team over there.dddddddddddd Our car went right on down through there. My guys are giving me a car I cant screw up in right now." Shawn Langdon won the Top Fuel division, and Jeg Coughlin topped the Pro Stock field. Langdon used the quickest time of the weekend to beat rival Tony Schumacher in the final for his second victory of the season. Langdon had a run of 3.750 at 324.20, and Schumacher followed at 3.781 at 327.27. All three of Langdons career victories have come in finals against seven-time world champ Schumacher. Coughlin broke a winless drought of more than two years, beating teammate Allen Johnson. In a battle of Dodge Avengers, Coughlin won in 6.680 at 206.20. Johnson finished in 6.698 at 206.57. ' ' '