Kaymer Jumps in Front by Six at Abu Dhabi Championship


Martin Kaymer is in outstanding position to secure his fourth title at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. The 30-year-old German fired a 7-under 65 Saturday to build a six-shot lead in the European Tour event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Kaymer, who won the event in 2008, '10 and '11, enjoyed a flawless seven-birdie outing Saturday in the Middle East to reach 20-under 196, a half-dozen shots ahead of Thomas Pieters. The 21-year-old Belgian carded a 70 but has trailed the 2014 U.S. Open champion throughout the tournament.

"I've had a very solid three days, with only two bogeys in the first round," said Kaymer, whose first two scores were 64 and 67. "I'm a little bit surprised the way I played but the first round showed me I made the right choice taking it a little bit easy over the winter."

France's Alexander Levy moved into a tie for third at 203 after a 67 with Austria's Bernd Wiesberger (66), while eight behind Kaymer are No. 1-ranked Rory McIlroy (71), Charl Schwartzel (65) of South Africa and Frenchman Gary Stal (67).

McIlroy, coming off two major victories in 2014 and a sweep of all the big player-of-the-year awards, was upset he couldn't keep up with Kaymer. "I feel like punching myself. I'm very disappointed, I just didn't putt well - yesterday or today," the 25-year-old Northern Irishman told the European Tour's website.

"I hit the ball just as well as I did yesterday and gave myself so many chances but I didn't convert any. I was very wasteful today. It looks like I'm playing for second place tomorrow. You're always trying to improve and get better and I'm going to have to do something a bit better on the greens to shoot a good number and finish the tournament off well."

American Peter Uihlein (70), Wales' Jamie Donaldson (65) and France's Victor Dubuisson (67) are tied for eighth at 205.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2015/tournamentid=2015002/leaderboard/index.html.