Rory McIlroy Rides Ace Up The Leaderboard In Abu Dhabi

Sep 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Rory McIlroy tees off on the eighth hole during the final round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Rory McIlroy followed the most interesting man in golf on Friday by making his first ace in competition at the 15th hole. Rory didn’t give us the “Moon Walk” like Miguel Angel Jimenez did on Thursday, but he did high-five his playing companions. McIlroy is only two shots back at the half-way point of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

The Ace…Rory McIlroy

McIlroy made the turn at one under par, which included his second bogey of the week at the sixth hole. He birdied 10 and 11, but missed a couple of opportunities before going to the 15th tee.

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"The World Number One said: “It definitely made up for the two previous holes. It was a perfect number. It was straight downwind, 177, and I had a nine iron. The 12th hole was playing sort of similar and I hit nine iron there and pitched 194 so I knew it was a pretty good number.“As soon as it left, it looked like it had a chance. It took a nice little hop to the right. It’s my first one ever in competition as a pro, so obviously beers are on me tonight.“It was unexpected. I had been playing well but I had not been putting so good. So that took the putter out of it thankfully and didn’t need to get the putter out on that hole.”"

McIlroy birdied the 18th hole, and carded a six under par 66, and moved into third place on the leaderboard. He trails leader, Martin Kaymer by two shots, but made up one stroke on the leader as the day came to an end.

 The Leader….Martin Kaymer

Martin Kaymer has won this event three times, and looks almost invincible at Abu Dhabi this week. Spending his off-time this year in Germany, instead of coming home to Florida, arrived in the United Arab Emirates ready to play golf.

The golf course fits Martin Kaymer’s game, with most holes calling for the soft fade that Kaymer has learned to accept, and play. The 30-year old German fired a five under 67 on Thursday, and at 13 under par, will take a one-shot lead over Thomas Pieters from Belgium on Saturday.

"US Open Champion Kaymer 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.”"

 The Man In the Middle…Thomas Pieters

Thomas Pieters is a 22 year-old Belgian who has traded punches with the 2014 US Open champ, and after dropping a shot at the ninth hole(his last of the day) will play alongside Kaymer on Saturday, and has sole possession of second place.

The youngster from Antwerp will be tested on Saturday, with the World’s number one playing well, and only one stroke back. Pieters matched Kaymer’s five-under 67 on Friday, and will get his metal tested this weekend.

Rickie Fowler

The bad news is, Rickie Fowler had a bad day in Abu Dhabi, the good news is, he made the cut and will play on the weekend in his maiden Abu Dhabi effort.

Fowler never recovered from the snowman he made at the par five eighth hole. He added two more bogeys on the back nine, and carded a 75.

He will play on the weekend, but is at two under par, and tied for 56th place in a tournament that started out great on Thursday when he kept pace with playing partner, Rory McIlroy.

The Cut

The cut came at two under par, and some big names on the European Tour will be heading home for the weekend. The biggest name going home is the World number two, Henrik Stenson.

Stenson showed up in Abu Dhabi with a lot of off-season rust on his game. The big Swede found some respectability after closing with a four under 68 on Friday, but couldn’t overcome the disaster on Thursday when he shot 76. Stenson finished at even par.

Other big names from the European Tour on their way home include Darren Clarke, Tommy Fleetwood, Rithie Ramsey, and the defending Champ, Pablo Larrazabal.

Playing alongside Martin Kaymer, and Justin Rose, the young Spaniard never could get it going this year. Two mediocre rounds of 71 and 72 left the defending champ at one under par, and one shot shy of the cut.

It’s a Wrap

With a four-time major champ, and a two-timer at the top of the leaderboard, the weekend in Abu Dhabi promises to treat us to a great finish. Along with the big names at the top, some exciting players close enough to make a run include American, Peter Uihlein and Brit, James Morrison. At nine under par, they are in range to make some noise before the Falcon Trophy is presented.

Frenchman, Alexander Levy is five back, at eight under, and tied with Aussie, Richard Green. They have an outside chance, albeit it a slim one to win on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.

Next: Rickie Fowler Takes His Game Abroad in 2015 And Beyond

Source: EuropeanTour.com