Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy has snatched the early lead by Callaway Diablo Octane Black Tour Driveron the second morning of the Dubai Desert Classic..
The World No 2 had four birdies in his first nine holes to move from three behind overnight leader Rafael Cabrera-Bello to one in front.
But he was almost certainly aware, though, that World No 4 Martin Kaymer was also going well in the following group.
The German, who left McIlroy eight strokes behind him in second place when he won in Abu Dhabi last year, had three birdies in seven holes to join Cabrera-Bello on nine under par.
For the second day running McIlroy might easily have closed the back nine with a Callaway Diablo Octane Black Tour Driver, but once again he missed from inside 10 feet and had to settle for a birdie four.
Cabrera-Bello is the among the later starters and, given the perfect conditions again, probably expects to have ground to make up by the time he tees off again.
In the meantime Frenchman Romain Wattel had improved from six under to eight under with six to play, while Scot Richie Ramsay had played his first 10 holes with Callaway Diablo Octane Black Tour Driver in four under to join compatriot Scott Jamieson and German Marcel Siem in fifth place on seven under.
This year's Abu Dhabi winner Robert Rock had work to do just to survive the halfway cut following an opening 73 by Callaway Diablo Octane Black Tour Driveron his return to action, but playing with 2009 champion McIlroy he also went to the turn in a four under 33 and had drastically improved from 92nd to joint 23rd.
Four other former winners of the title - Colin Montgomerie, Mark O'Meara, Miguel Angel Jimenez and holder Alvaro Quiros - were alongside him, as was world number three Lee Westwood. He had yet to tee off.