Rory McIlroy looms large for his second win in three events shooting a second round of 67 on day two of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy, 24 looked back to his double Major winning best birding his closing two holes to end the day in a share of fourth place on seven under par and just two shots off the lead in the UAE capital.
Scotland’s Craig Lee (67) and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello (68) head the $US 2.7m event on nine under par and with England’s Danny Willett (63) third on eight under par.
Rory McIlroy tees off the 2nd tee during Friday’s Round 2 of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. (Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie)
McIlroy is tied with Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez (66) and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn (70).
The current World No. 7 ranked McIlroy continues to display the late end-of-season 2013 form that saw him come from behind and defeat Masters champion, Adam Scott in last month’s Australian Open in Sydney.
“It’s a great position to be in, as I’m only a few off the lead, two or three off the lead so I’m excited to be in contention, and it’s a great way to start the season being right in there in the mix going into the last 36 holes,” said McIlroy.
“Hopefully, I can keep playing the way I’m playing.”
McIlroy’s start to a New Year is in stark contrast to 12 months ago when he left new equipment sponsors Nike extremely red-faced in missing the Abu Dhabi halfway cut with a pair of 75s.
Included in that embarrassing display was two double bogeys when he drove out-of-bounds along with seven bogeys and just five birdies over his 36 holes.
After two rounds this week the Northern Irishman has had one double bogey, and that today at his sixth hole, but also nine birdies in an impressive driving display over the two rounds.
“Coming off the last green last year, after 36 holes, I was deflated to say the least.
“The week didn’t go as how I imagined it or how I planned. It started off with fireworks and ended in not so well.
“But it’s so much better this year. I’m happy with how I’m playing. I’m striking the ball really well. I got a few putts to drop on the back nine, which was nice. And yeah, I mean, I feel like if I can keep hitting it the way I have been, I’ve got a great chance to win in this tournament.”
While McIlroy won two tournaments ago in Sydney it is some 13 months since his last tasted success on the European Tour when he birdied his closing five holes in winning the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in nearby Dubai.
Cabrera-Bello is also no stranger to winning in the UAE having captured the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic.
“I have been practicing hard the last two weeks and trying also to get back into shape, so I’m glad that is all paying off,” said the Spaniard.
Five-time Major winning Phil Mickelson, who played alongside McIlroy, clawed his way back into the event with a round of 70 for a one under par tally.
“I had a much better day today, and had a very good practice session before teeing off,” he said.
“I’m really glad I made the cut and I now have a chance over these next two days, because I kind of keyed in on something with my swing starting to feel much better and I really need these two days to get my game in shape to start the year.”
