Abu Dhabi Golf

Abu Dhabi Golf, Thorbjorn Olesen holds a one-shot lead after the second round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy two strokes behind.

Olesen, of Denmark, shot a 5-under-par 65 today and is 7- under for the tournament at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Italy’s Matteo Manassero, who had the day’s low score of 65, and England’s Gareth Maybin, with a 70, are 6-under at the midway point.

McIlroy, who shared the first-round lead with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, had a 72 to drop to 5-under. The U.S. Open champion from Northern Ireland was 3-over in his round after three holes, then took a two-stroke penalty on the ninth hole for brushing away sand that wasn’t on the putting surface.

“Just wasn’t thinking,” McIlroy, No. 3 in the Official World Golf Ranking, told reporters. “Turned a routine 4 into a 6 there and just sort of undone all the great work to get back to even par.”

Woods, McIlroy’s playing partner, had five birdies and two bogeys in a round of 69. He had a chance to tie Olesen after birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th holes, but bogeyed No. 16 where he drove into the rough.

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, The 2012 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is the fourth event on the European Tour, and the world’s No. 4 golfer, Martin Kaymer, is on the lookout for his third straight victory at Abu Dhabi. Kaymer dominated last year’s tournament by shooting a 24-under and winning by eight strokes (both tournament records). Overall, Kaymer has won three total tournaments, also capturing the 2008 title. Kaymer will play in a solid group that also includes Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood.

Branden Grace will be in the hunt to win his third straight competition this season. He captured the Joburg Open and the Volvo Champions over the last two weeks and has captured nearly €3.3 million as a result. Grace will tee off on Hole No. 1 as part of the afternoon group.

Tiger Woods makes his 2012 season debut at Abu Dhabi and he certainly is going to have a tough challenge ahead of him as he competes with several of the top golfers: No. 1 Luke Donald and No. 3 Rory McIlroy. Will Woods be able to compete with his high-profile competition? Woods certainly sounds as though he is physically ready to perform again (via USA Today):

“I’m looking forward to this year,” Woods told reporters Tuesday. “That’s something that I have to say, because I was able to prepare and get fit enough to prepare last year and towards the end of the year. I demonstrated to myself what I can do with implementing what (swing coach Sean Foley) wants me to do on the golf swing.”

Woods will receive $1.5 million for just appearing in this tournament.