Golf:While some around him were losing their heads, Irishman Gareth Maybin did an extraordinarily good job at keeping his and posted another bogey free round to share second with Italian Matteo Manassero at the Abu Dhabi Championship this afternoon.
Fellow Ulsterman Rory McIlroy was primed for an assault on the summit this morning, but mixed the ridiculous with the sublime when incurring a two-stroke penalty before offsetting the error brilliantly with some stunning golf to remain at five under.
Joint top overnight with Swede Robert Karlsson, the US Open champion had come back from a shaky start with three birdies when his rules blunder came on the 456-yard ninth. Just off the green in two, McIlroy made the mistake of brushing away sand that was not on the putting surface and the penalty was imposed after a referee had been called.
The world number three also had a double bogey on the third and did well to avoid another on the 11th, but six birdies kept him in the hunt. By adding a level par 72 to his opening 67 he was two behind clubhouse leader Thorbjorn Olesen and alongside Tiger Woods, his playing partner for the first two days.
Asked if he was guilty of a lack of concentration or simply did not know the rule, McIlroy said: “I think it was a little bit of both - first week back as well. Luke (Donald) said ‘I don’t think you can do that’ and then I was like ‘Oh yeah I can’t, can I?’ It twigged on me straightaway.
“It undid all the great work I’d done after the bad start, but JP (caddie JP Fitzgerald) said ‘It’s only Friday, it’s not as if these things are happening to you on a Sunday afternoon’. Tiger’s not making many mistakes, is very consistent and his ball control looks good. I’m looking forward to battling with him over the weekend.”
Former world number one Woods had a chance to catch Olesen when he birdied the 13th, 14th and 16th, but he bogeyed the next after driving into the rough and, like McIlroy, had to settle for par on the long 18th. It gave him a 69.
Woods said: “I thought I played well. A lot of the things Sean (coach Sean Foley) and I are working on are starting to feel very comfortable. But it’s tough out there - the rough’s getting deeper and more lush.”
Instead, it was Maybin who quietly made his move, reaching the turn with nine pars and the picking up shots on 10 and 12. His 70 followed yesterday’s 68, in which four quickfire birdies on the front nine complemented a flawless scorecard.
It was quite the turnaround for the Antrim golfer, who only just secured his Tour card when finishing 117th of the 118 qualifiers last season. He’s not alone, however, with Manassero having carded a 65, and among the chasing pack are Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell.
Both shot 69s, leaving the latter on three under and the former one shot better off. Michael Hoey was the only other Irishman to make the cut, just, despite a 76 dropping him to two over.
Damien McGrane (76), Peter Lawrie (72), Shane Lowry (77) and Darren Clarke (81) will have to make other plans for the weekend.
Current number one Donald, the third member of McIlroy’s group, had another quiet day. He goes into the third round on one under following a 72.
