Three-time winner Martin Kaymer surged into the halfway lead in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Friday.
Former world number one Kaymer carded a second consecutive 66 to reach 12 under par, a shot ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Rafa Cabrera Bello.
Cabrera Bello had held the lead for much of the day after adding a 66 to his opening 67, the 32-year-old Spaniard responding to his only bogey of the day on the sixth – his 15th hole – with birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth.
Ireland’s Paul Dunne, England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat were two shots off the pace on 10 under, with overnight leader Henrik Stenson among those a shot further back after a 71.
Defending champion Rickie Fowler and US Open champion Dustin Johnson safely made the cut on four under after matching rounds of 68, but Masters champion Danny Willett had just four players below him after a 76 which included a quadruple-bogey nine on the 10th.
