Martin Kaymer retains one shot lead

Edited by Anand Datla

Three time winner Martin Kaymer retained a one-shot lead after his second round at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.  Although he was not as prolific as he was on Thursday, when he picked up 10 birdies, the German – winner of this event in 2008, 2010 and 2011 – was still impressive in producing a blemish free five under par 67. Belgian Thomas Pieters was lying second at 12-under just one shot off the pace set by Kaymer. Rory McIlroy was a further stroke behind at 11-under after shooting a 66 on Friday.

Starting on the back nine, the US Open Champion superbly putted from the edge of the green on the 12th and then made another birdie at the next.  He saved par on the 16th despite finding a greenside bunker with his approach and then overcame an errant tee shot into the rough to take four on the par five 18th.

Another wayward approach at the start of the front nine left him in another bunker but he magnificently chipped in to move to 12 under.  Another gain on the eighth, his penultimate hole, moved Kaymer to 13 under and equalled the 36 hole record he set at the tournament seven years ago.

The 30 year old said: “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.

“I will give it my best to get to the 20s. I’ll say it that way. Right now, I’m 13 under par, which is a great score after two rounds.”  Kaymer’s nearest challengers were Alexander Levy, who is eight under despite failing to match his opening round 66, settling for a 70 with a trio of birdies and one dropped shot, and Richard Green.

The Australian, one of 12 players in the field this week to have contended each and every edition of this championship in its ten year history, displayed his vast Abu Dhabi experience by matching his opening round four under 68.

Frenchman Levy said: “Today was a good day. I made some good saves and I’m really happy. I take a good strategy on the golf course. I hit some drives but had bad luck on the rough, and I just lay up and try to make the par with a wedge put. That was the key. I’m really happy with that.”