Fleetwood, Rai share Abu Dhabi HSBC C'ship lead at halfway stage

Tommy Fleetwood and fellow Englishman Aaron Rai share the lead at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, opening up a two shot lead over their closest challengers at Yas Links.

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Fleetwood, who won this event in 2017 and 2018, started the day in a five-way tie for the lead but found himself in the chasing pack by the time he began his second round as early starter Nacho Elvira made three birdies on the front nine.

But the Ryder Cup star soon caught up as he birdied each of the first three holes to grab a share of the lead.

The two-time former winner and reigning FedExCup champion made a total of seven birdies in his round of 66, with his only bogey of the week so far coming on the 15th.

"Really good day," said Fleetwood. "I got off to like the perfect start. Birdie, birdie, birdie. That was good, especially when you've had a good round the day before. They always say it's hard to follow up a good round with another good one, or a low one with another one."

"Starting good was really important. I just did a really good job - I hit a lot of good shots but a few times today where I drove it into the rough and we read the lies really well.

"I felt like we did a great job of controlling the ball out of the rough, and that was really pleasing. I feel like I putted solid again. 6-under was a very good score."