Martin Kaymer held a one-shot lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship after carding a five-under-par 67 on Friday, with Rory McIlroy two shots off the pace after a 66 which included a first career hole in one.
Kaymer, winner of this tournament in 2008, 2010 and 2011, made 10 birdies and a couple of bogeys on Thursday to surge to the summit, and he continued his fine form on day two.
The German was one shot clear of Belgium's Thomas Pieters, who missed the chance to stay tied for first place after a bogey on his final hole of the day.
World number one McIlroy climbed five places to third, thanks in part to the first tournament hole in one of his professional career on the par-three 15th.
The Northern Irishman also carded five birdies and a bogey to register 66 and go 11 under for the event.
McIlroy's playing partner Rickie Fowler did not enjoy as much luck as the reigning Open and PGA champion. The American had a triple bogey after finding the deep rough on the eighth before two more bogeys on the back nine left him on two under, just above the projected cut.
England's James Morrison was in fourth place on nine under following his second round of 67, while France's Alexander Levy and Australia's Richard Green were a stroke further back in a tie for fifth.
"I guess the greens, I can read them very well and my stroke always feels well when I come here," Kaymer told Sky Sports 4 after completing his round.
"Again, today, I didn't miss many fairways, which gives you the opportunity to go for a lot of flags, and to be honest I really believe the golf course plays two or three shots tougher in the morning than in the afternoon, because once you miss the fairway, you're in that thick, wet grass and then it's almost impossible to get home in two on the par fours.
"So therefore, I was very happy to shoot five under today."
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