McIlroy rebounds to 11 under at Abu Dhabi Championship
The Masters winner shoots 63 on Friday, placing him one stroke behind the three-way lead after a first-round penalty.
By Madison Lewis ·
Rory McIlroy shot 11 birdies on Friday to finish his second round at 9-under 63 at the Abu Dhabi Championship. The Masters champion now sits at 11-under par for the tournament at Yas Links.
McIlroy faced a first-round setback on Thursday when officials assessed a two-shot penalty for improving his lie. That ruling left him eight shots behind the leader at the start of the second round.
He said he made peace with the decision before leaving the course Thursday. "I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat," McIlroy said. "I had a clear conscience and I could just go and play."
The 2026 season schedule has positioned this event as the next-to-last opportunity for players to contend for the Race to Dubai title. McIlroy is currently pursuing a fifth consecutive win in that standings race.
A three-way tie currently leads the field at 12-under par. Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, and Francesco Laporta all sit at that total after two rounds.
Hatton made eight birdies in a round of 65 but missed a par putt on the 16th hole. He noted that putting together decent scores again is a welcome change compared to the previous month and a half.
McIlroy, Matthew Jordan, Adrian Meronk, and Sam Bairstow are tied in second place at 11-under par. McIlroy credited a putting session with Brad Faxon last week for his improved performance on the greens.
