McIlroy rebounds from penalty with 63 at Abu Dhabi Championship

Rory McIlroy moved into contention at the Abu Dhabi Championship with a nine-under-par 63 on Friday, responding to a two-shot penalty in his opening round. BBC Sport reported that his 11 birdies took him to 11 under for the tournament and into the clubhouse lead, although several leading players had yet to finish their second rounds.

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The penalty on Thursday came after McIlroy pressed down grass behind his ball with his club before a chip at the par-four 12th hole at Yas Links. He was sanctioned for improving his lie, leaving him on two under after the opening day and eight strokes behind Italy's Francesco Laporta.

Friday's recovery began with another setback, a bogey on the first hole. McIlroy then birdied the second, fourth and seventh before making five successive birdies from the ninth through the 13th. A bogey at the 14th interrupted that run, but birdies at the final two holes helped him complete the 63. According to BBC Sport, it was his first round containing 11 birdies at a DP World Tour event.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, McIlroy said he had accepted the circumstances of Thursday's penalty and had not allowed it to distract him during the second round. He was pleased with his driving and iron play, while also pointing to improved putting. He said he had seen more putts drop than in recent months.

The tournament also has implications for the Race to Dubai, with McIlroy pursuing a fifth consecutive title and an eighth overall. An eighth would match Colin Montgomerie's record. McIlroy arrived in Abu Dhabi third in the standings, behind Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed, who occupied first and second respectively.

Both of those rivals shot 71 on Friday. Chacarra stood at three under for the tournament, while Reed was one over. Reed had led the season-long race following victories in Dubai and Qatar, but Chacarra moved ahead after securing his third win of the season at the DP World India Championship.

The Abu Dhabi field comprises the top 70 available players in the Race to Dubai rankings. The top 50 advance to the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next week. McIlroy's clubhouse position remained provisional, with the second round still in progress when BBC Sport published its report.