Abu Dhabi Championship: McIlroy storms into contention with career-high 11 birdies in DP World Tour round

It is the most birdies McIlroy has made in a single round in his DP World Tour career, with the two-time Masters champion posting a second-round 63 at Yas Links Golf Club to move one shot back of the leaders.

"I did everything well again," McIlroy said. "I drove the ball well. I hit my irons well. I putted a little bit better. I saw a few more putts go in, which is something that I haven't been seeing for the last couple of months.

"I did some work with Brad Faxon last week and feel like I'm in a better spot with it. I definitely saw some encouraging signs on the greens today."

McIlroy added: "I would say I'll be at least two or three behind going into tomorrow, but I'm still in a much better position than I thought I would be. I give myself a great chance, and that's all I can ask for."

Hatton , who carded an opening round 67, getting off to a fast start with back-to-back birdies on holes one and two, before making four consecutive birdies between holes six and nine.

The Englishman took the clubhouse lead off McIlroy with a birdie on the 11th, but he couldn't pull away from Rahm, with a poorly weighted shot on the par-four 16th ultimately costing him a birdie and the lead.

Rahm carded a mixed second-round 67, which included three bogeys and eight birdies, but it could have been lower, with the Spaniard's wayward driving costing him shots on the sixth and 12th.

"[It's been] pretty good play," Rahm said, reflecting on his round. "The only thing to take back would be just a couple of bad tee shots. I'm feeling fairly comfortable otherwise."

Laporta struck a low round 62 on Thursday, but was unable to match that prolific scoring, ending his second round with a two-under 70 after a wayward drive left on the par four 14th saw him concede a double bogey.

Adam Scott continued his flawless week in Abu Dhabi, going bogey-free through 36-holes with a five-under 67.

England's Tommy Fleetwood moved up the standings, carding five consecutive birdies on his front nine before signing for an impressive six-under-par 66.

McIlroy is out to leapfrog Race to Dubai Rankings leader Eugenio Chacarra and put himself in a prime spot to win a record-equalling eighth Order of Merit title heading into next week's DP World Tour Championship.

The Northern Irishman dropped off the pace on Thursday after he was assessed a two-stroke penalty for improving his lie at the par-four 12th, and he started his second round poorly, slicing his drive out of bounds on the first hole before conceding a bogey.

McIlroy shrugged off the early fault, responding immediately with birdies on the second, fourth, seventh and ninth, where he stuffed an approach from 140 yards out to within four feet of the pin.

He continued his impressive scoring on the back nine, making four consecutive birdies between the 10th and 13th holes.

Another blemish would come on the 14th, with McIlroy, who drove the green on the par-four on Friday, opting to lay up. He would then miss the green on approach and card a second bogey.

He quickly recovered, though, birdieing the 15th before closing his remarkable round with consecutive gains on the 17th and 18th.

'I'd rather lose two shots than be called a cheat'

Having had time to reflect on his two-stroke penalty on Thursday, McIlroy spoke again on the matter following his second round and admitted he quickly "made peace" with the incident.

His ball had appeared to roll into a divot on a slope next to the green on the par four 12th hole.

As he addressed his ball, the Northern Irishman appeared to move a piece of grass behind the ball with his wedge and was later assessed a two-stroke penalty for improving his lie.

"Before I left the course, I made peace with it," he said. I didn't dwell on it, or I didn't feel like I did anything wrong. But then at the same time, I said the video didn't look good.

"I just never wanted the perception, people feeling like I got away with something. I wouldn't want that sitting with me.

"I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat. That's what I did, and I made peace with it.

"I went out today [Friday] and it wasn't playing on my mind. I had a clear conscience, and I could just go and play."

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