Rory McIlroy moved to within striking distance of back-to-back titles in full-field events at the halfway stage of the $US2.7 million ($A3.07 million) Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Friday.
The world number seven finished with consecutive birdies to come home in 31.
A round of five-under par 67, which included a double bogey on the front nine, took his two-day tally to seven-under par 137, and in tied fourth place.
The Northern Ireland star was two shots behind leaders Craig Lee of Scotland and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello.
Lee shot 67 while Cabrera-Bello had a 68.
A delighted Cabrera-Bello said: "I am playing well, putting good, and putting the ball in play, hitting the fairways... so, I'm feeling confident."
Lee credited his performance on the greens as the key to his success so far.
"I think Santa has brought me a good putting stroke for Christmas. I don't know what's happening out there but I'm holing a lot of putts and that's definitely the difference."
McIlroy, who looked a completely different man from the one who finished his second round here last year by missing the cut, said: "It wasn't the fastest of starts.
"Getting back to even par for the round after nine was important, and then I gave myself a target of four under on the back nine and was able to go one better than that."
England's Danny Willett made the biggest move of the day, his nine-under-par 63 lifting him to third place at eight-under 136.
The turnaround was incredible as he was five-over par after his first 10 holes on Thursday.
World number three Henrik Stenson could not make a move in the right direction and a round of even par 72 meant he missed his first cut since the Quail Hollow Championship on the PGA Tour in May last year.
The Swede was two-over 146 for the tournament with the cutline falling at 144.
The last time he missed weekend action on the European Tour was at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in October 2012.
World number five Phil Mickelson finally found the birdies on Friday, and a 70 moved the American to one-under par 143.
Sergio Garcia survived a ruling scare in the morning, and then recovered well from his overnight round of 76 to post a 68.
Some viewers had called in after the first round, alleging the Spaniard had tapped a spike mark in his line of putt on the 18th hole, in the same manner as Simon Dyson did last year.
But after review, the European Tour cleared the world No.10 after determining he had already tapped a pitch mark.
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