Rose Up by One in Abu Dhabi; McIlroy & Woods Miss Cut


Justin Rose followed up his opening 5-under 67 with a 69 to take over the top spot in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The $2.7 European Tour event began Thursday at the par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The 32-year-old Englishman posted four birdies and a bogey on Friday, easing past fellow 18-hole leader Jamie Donaldson of Wales, who shot a 70 and stands at 137 with Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen (69) and Spaniard Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (67).

Joost Luiten (69) and Garth Mulroy (68) share fifth at 139, while Kaymer (69) - who's won the event three of the past five years - is at 140 with several others, including American Jason Dufner (69)

Perhaps the most shocking development is that the tournament's two marquee players, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, missed the cut. McIlroy carded his second straight 75, while Woods also posted a 75 after opening with a 72.

Woods got off to a terrible start with three bogeys, a triple and a lone birdie on the front nine. His triple was recorded later after he improperly took relief for an imbedded ball in the rough. He rallied a bit on the back with four birdies and two bogeys, but the two-stroke penalty forced him to miss the cut by a shot.

"You don't get relief if it's imbedded in the sand," said European Tour official Andy McFee of the ruling. "I knew exactly where he was in terms of the tournament. He thought he was doing the right thing at the time."

"Andy says the ball wasn't imbedded because it was a sandy lie," said Woods. "It's tough because I didn't get off to a good start, and I got it back.

"I fought hard," he added. "I battled back and got it to where I thought I could play the weekend, and thought I might have a chance [to win], just post two low rounds. But I won't be able to do that."

McIlroy never got going. He carded five bogeys and two birdies Friday, after posting two doubles, a bogey and a lone birdie in the first round.

"It's a shame for everyone," said Martin Kaymer, who played with Woods and McIlroy in the first two rounds. "The people here, the tournament, the European Tour. Especially after the way he fought back."

"I'm sure Tiger and Rory are disappointed to exit and would've wanted to be chasing the Falcon Trophy going down the final stretch on Sunday," said Faisal Al Sheikh of the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, which stages the event. "There are no certainties in sport, golf included."

Defending champion Robert Rock withdrew before the start of the second round after shooting a 76 Thursday.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2013/tournamentid=2013005/leaderboard/index.html?showLeaderboard=Y.