ABU DHABI: Rory McIlroy stormed into contention at the $2.7m Abu Dhabi Championship, carding a second-round 67 to leave him two shots off the lead yesterday.
The former world number one covered the back nine in 31 to put him seven under par at the halfway stage and in the slipstream of joint leaders Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Craig Lee.
“I got a few putts to drop on the back nine which was nice and I feel like I have a great chance of winning,” McIlroy, now ranked seventh, said on the European Tour website (www.europeantour.com).
“It would be nice to win your first start of the season rather than your last start. It’s exactly what I wanted. It’s a great way to test your game under pressure.”
Scotland’s Lee, looking for his first European Tour win, claimed a share of the lead with a second round 67 and put an upturn in his short game down to having an astroturf putting green installed in his front garden.
“I think Santa has brought me a good putting stroke for Christmas,” Lee said.
“My brother installed an astroturf putting green in my front garden at the end of last year and that’s made a difference as I’ve been able to keep putting every day. It’s 20 feet by 14 feet and the neighbours have been peering over the fence.”
Overnight joint leader Cabrera-Bello fired a second-round 68 to continue his impressive start to the year.
“I am playing well, putting good, and putting the ball in play, hitting the fairways and so I’m feeling confident,” he said. “Pretty much I’m just happy with the way I’m playing.” REUTERS
