Australia's Sam Brazel is within striking distance of the lead following his second round in the Abu Dhabi HSCB Championship.
Ranked 267 in the world, Brazel posted seven birdies and three bogeys in a round of four-under par 68.
The 39-year-old, last year's Hong Kong Open winner, sits at nine-under par, three shots behind Belgium's Thomas Pieters.
Ryder Cup star Pieters fired a superb 65 to set a daunting clubhouse target.
Pieters, who won a record four points on his debut at Hazeltine in 2016, holed out from a bunker on the ninth - his final hole - for one of his seven birdies to reach 12-under par, two clear of playing partner Ross Fisher.
Fisher carded a second consecutive 67 as the players took advantage of perfect conditions at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, with two-time winner Paul Casey a shot further back alongside Brazel following a 65.
"I made a good eight-footer on four for par, which is probably the best putt I hit all day," Pieters told Sky Sports.
"But the conditions are perfect, no wind. It's nice out there so you need to take advantage of the conditions."
Pieters, Fisher and Casey were all members of the European team which won the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur last week, with Casey having rejoined the European Tour after a three-year absence in order to be eligible for September's Ryder Cup.
AAP
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