McIlroy fires 11 birdies to sit one shot off lead at Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship

Rory McIlroy rebounded from a first-round two-shot penalty by carding a 9-under 63, including 11 birdies, on Friday at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. The round left him one stroke behind the 36-hole leader.

"Even if I were three shots behind it's still a much better position than I thought I would be," McIlroy said.

The penalty was imposed after officials ruled he had improved his lie on a hole where he later made a double bogey, leaving him two-under 70 and eight shots back of first-round leader Italy's Laporta.

"Before I left the course, I made peace with it. I didn’t dwell on it. I’d much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat. At least I went out today and it wasn’t playing on my mind. I had a clear conscience and I could just go and play," he explained.

McIlroy began his second round with a bogey but quickly recovered, making three birdies in the next six holes and then five consecutive birdies from holes 9 to 13. He credited solid ball-striking and improved putting.

"I did everything well again. I drove the ball well. I hit my irons well. I putted a little bit better. I saw a few more putts go in, which is something that I haven't been seeing for the last couple months," he said.

Trailing McIlroy by one shot at 11 under were Englishmen Matthew Jordan and Sam Bairstow, and Poland's Adrian Meronk, a recent Alfred Dunhill Links champion. Laporta, ranked 224th, posted a 70 on Friday to reach 11 under and maintain a three-stroke lead over three players.

The event is part of the DP World Tour’s two-week postseason playoffs and the final push for the Race to Dubai title, which crowns the season’s No. 1 player. McIlroy is aiming for a fifth consecutive Race to Dubai title, which would tie him with Colin Montgomerie for eighth on the all-time list.