• Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Round Two

Tiger catches Rory as battle heats up in Abu Dhabi

Tiger Woods fired a 69 on day two © Getty Images

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Tiger Woods went over two years without a win before triumphing at the Chevron World Challenge late last year - but now he is in with a genuine chance of recording back-to-back victories.

Woods fired a 69 on day two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship to move to five under, and is now two shots off the lead held by Thorbjorn Olesen. Several celebrated names have congregated towards the top of the leaderboard - Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy among them - and the scene is set for a high-calibre shootout across the weekend.

The accusation levelled at Woods prior to the tournament was that he was only competing because of a lucrative appearance fee - yet there was no denying he was fiercely motivated to challenge as he stormed up the leaderboard.

He made an unspectacular start, reaching the eighth tee at level par for the day, before going on a run of four birdies in eight holes, including an 18-foot putt at the 11th. He bogeyed 16, then completed his day's work with two pars.

McIlroy began the day ahead of Woods, but finished it locked with the American at five under after suffering a two-stroke penalty at the ninth. McIlroy, who was playing from off the green, made the mistake of brushing away sand that was not on the putting surface - and was penalised for his actions.

And that was not his only low point on a turbulent day: he was twice in a bunker at the first, eventually recording a bogey, then picked up a double bogey at the third having overshot the green from a fairway bunker. However, he did offer fleeting reminders of his brilliance, recording six birdies - and without that two-shot penalty, he would be in a share of the lead alongside Olesen.

Donald seemed on course to finish within touching distance of Woods and McIlroy, his playing partners, only to fall back into the field with costly bogeys at 14 and 16. Donald is on one under following a 72.

World No. 2 Lee Westwood struggled with a neck problem throughout his round and, after five bogeys in his first 12 holes, looked to have little chance of making the halfway cut. However, he recovered with three birdies on the back nine to record his second 72 of the event. "Lee has come into the tournament with some tightness and that can radiate down his arm through the nerve," said trainer Steve McGregor to Sky Sports.

Martin Kaymer, a three-time winner of the tournament, failed to make the weekend this time round after a 73 took him to a hugely disappointing six over.

Graeme McDowell made a timely move and now sits at three under: he was one over for the day through seven, before coming home with four birdies thanks to some fine putting on the back nine.

Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington, two of the game's fallen giants, are both locked at four under.

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