kaymer 3 clear in Abu Dhabi

Martin Kaymer put himself in pole position to successfully defend his Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship title as he reached the halfway stage 12 under par.

A week after Charl Schwartzel retained the Joburg Open, US PGA Championship winner Kaymer added a superb second round 65 to his opening 67 despite wet and windy conditions.

And the good news keeps coming for The Race to Dubai champion, who looks well placed to take the top seven finish he needs this week to replace Tiger Woods as World Number Two.

Schwartzel, yet to finish outside the top four in his four events this season, is second on nine under after adding a 71 to the opening 64 which gave him the first round lead.

US Open Championship winner Graeme McDowell and Argentina’s Rafa Echenique are a shot further back in third.

This is Kaymer’s first event of 2011, but there were no signs of rust as he burst out of the blocks with five birdies in his first seven holes en route to a bogey-free round.

“Yesterday I thought I had a good day already, but today I made early birdies,” said the 26 year old.

“On the first nine, I was five under par, and it also gave me the hope and the belief that I can play well again.

“My ball striking was okay. I missed a few drives way left on 8 twice, way right on ten. So it was spraying a little bit, but my putting always was consistent and good.

“Of course, if your short game is sharp, you can get a little bit more confidence than usual. You know if you miss a fairway, if you miss a green that you have a good chance to make the up and down.”