• Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, Round Two

Reigning champion Kaymer shows pedigree

Martin Kaymer took advantage of the hesitancy of the other early leaders to open up a three-shot advantage at the halfway stage © Getty Images

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• News: Harrington disqualified in Abu Dhabi
  
• Profile: Martin Kaymer | Graeme McDowell | Rory McIlroy | Charl Schwartzel | Lee Westwood

Leaderboard

Reigning champion Martin Kaymer moved ominously to the head of the leaderboard at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship with an imperious round of 65, knocking overnight leader Charl Schwartzel off top spot.

Having watched Schwartzel only manage a solid but unspectacular round of 71 in the morning, Kaymer immediately came out and took the tournament by the throat with five birdies in his first seven holes to reach the turn in 31. The back nine was slightly more subdued, but a further two birdies were still enough for a 12-under total that gives him a three-shot lead on last week's Joburg Open winner.

After making a birdie on his first hole of the day, the 10th, it looked like the in-form Schwartzel could be on for a repeat of the blistering 64 that gave him the first-round lead. But the South African immediately bogeyed the 11th, before a run of three dropped shots in four holes on the back nine meant only a birdie on his final hole ensured he dipped under par for the round, and gave him a nine-under total overall.

That was still enough for second spot beyond Kaymer, though, as his nearest challenger from day one Padraig Harrington was disqualified and conditions conspired against low scores for the majority of the field. US Open champion Graeme McDowell was another to experience mixed fortunes, dropping shots at each of his first two holes before slowly grinding himself back into contention. Two birdies in his final three holes ensured the Ulsterman remained on the shoulder of Schwartzel, at eight-under for the competition.

Scoring was not difficult for McDowell's countryman Rory McIlroy, however, who breezed round in 67 to propel himself to six-under and firmly into the hunt. McIlroy was joined by his 2010 Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie, who hinted he might still have something left in the tank with a 69 that, coupled with Thursday's 70, also left him on five-under.

Both men were pipped by David Lynn, however, the Englishman signing for a 68 that has him at seven-under and just off the leaders. He was soon joined by Niclas Fasth as the Swede carded a one-under 71, with Rafa Echenique also equalling the mark late in the day. It could have been so much better for the Argentine, but two bogeys in the final three holes (after managing an eagle and two birdies in the same stretch on Thursday) ensured he had to settle for a still respectable round of 68.

He will still be far happier than world No. 1 Lee Westwood, though, as the Englishman made two ugly double-bogeys on his inward nine to come back in 41 for a level par total that left him agonisingly close to missing the halfway cut.

Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen and Henrik Stenson were among some high profile names stuck at three-under, with the latter two carding rounds of 71 and Mickelson a 70 that was aided by an important birdie on the 18th. The trio should all make the cut for the weekend, but will need to make the most of Saturday to get back into contention.

At least they will be around for Saturday and Sunday, however. A number of well-known players struggled round Abu Dhabi Golf Club, with Darren Clarke and newly-appointed European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal both missing out on the weekend after rounds of 75 and 73 left them two-over and four-over respectively.

They are likely to be joined by Ian Poulter and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, who both will have to hope for poor performances over the closing holes from the four player still to finish their rounds on Saturday if they are to remain in the tournament.

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