Martin Kaymer hasn’t won on the European Tour or anywhere else since 2014.
The two-time major champion is trying to do something about that in Abu Dhabi. Kaymer, a three time champion at this event (’08, ’10, ’11), fired a second straight 66 and leads the pack at the HSBC Championship at 12-under par.
First round leader Henrik Stenson cooled off on Friday but a one-under par 71, thanks to a birdie at the 18th hole, kept him in touch with the leader. Stenson is at nine-under par, three back.
Rafa Cabrera Bello added a 66 to his opening 67 and will play with Kaymer on Saturday. Bello, who made his Ryder Cup debut last year, did not miss a single cut on the European Tour in 2016.
Defending champion Rickie Fowler and U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson found themselves on the wrong side of the projected cut-line after their opening rounds of even par 72. But both did what they had to on Friday with four-under par 68s to make it to the weekend. The two American stars are tied for 37th.
