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McIlroy's misdemeanour on the ninth ultimately cost him a share of the lead
Rory McIlroy incurred a two-shot penalty during the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship as he fell from joint leader to joint third.
Northern Ireland's US Open champion brushed sand away from his line on the ninth hole, the penalty arising from the fact his ball was not on the green.
His level-par round of 72, which left him on five under, featured two double bogeys, two bogeys and six birdies.
McIlroy is tied with Tiger Woods, two shots behind leader Thorbjorn Olesen.
Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin (70) and Italy's Matteo Manassero (65) trail Denmark's Olesen (67) by one.
ANALYSIS
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Rory McIlroy's infringement of the rules was a schoolboy error and Luke Donald did the right thing to alert him, protecting the field and averting any chance of the Northern Irishman signing for the wrong score. The way McIlroy responded, coming home in 34, was impressive. As Tiger Woods pointed out, the course is proving a tough test, with thick rough and the wind direction not helping on many of the numerous dogleg holes. The American is pretty satisfied with his first 36 holes, while it is no surprise to see Thorbjorn Olesen doing so well. The Dane was unlucky not to have been rookie of the year in 2011 and is a fine prospect
McIlroy would have joined fellow 22-year-old Olesen on top of the leaderboard but for his misdemeanour on the par-four ninth.
Just off the green in two, playing partner and world number one Luke Donald pointed out his mistake and a referee was called.
McIlroy conceded he was guilty of a lack of concentration and being unsure of the rule.
He said: "Luke [Donald] said 'I don't think you can do that' and then I was like 'Oh yeah I can't, can I?' It twigged on me straightaway.
"It undid all the great work I'd done after the bad start."
Woods is also in contention after rolling in five birdie putts in a second round that contained two bogeys, his first dropped shots of the tournament.
"I played well," said the 14-time major winner. "A lot of things are starting to feel very comfortable but it's tough out there, the rough is getting deeper and more lush."
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The pain goes down into my elbow and it feels like somebody is driving a needle in there
Lee Westwood on his neck injury
World number two Lee Westwood, who is battling a neck injury, was in danger of missing the cut after three bogeys in his opening five holes.
However, the Englishman, who started on the 10th, traded two birdies with two more dropped shots around the turn.
But three successive birdies from the fifth lifted him to a 72 and level par for the tournament.
"I've had it [pain] for about a month, but this is the first time I've played three days in a row," he said.
"The pain goes down into my elbow and it feels like somebody is driving a needle in there."
When asked if there was any possibility of him withdrawing from the tournament, he added: "If I'd hit it in the long rough I might have had to think about it, but hopefully I'll be OK [on Saturday]."
Donald will also be around for the weekend after he also shot a 72, finishing on one under par.
However, three-time winner and defending champion Martin Kaymer is out after following his opening-round 77 with a 73 to finish six over.
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Article source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/golf/16759007.stm
Cruz Azul and Union Espanola each recorded their second win in the Copa Libertadores group stage when they saw off Venezuelan opposition on Tuesday.
Mexican side Cruz Azul hammered Deportivo Tachira 4-0 while Chilean side Union enjoyed a 3-1 success against Bolivar in Venezuela.
Adrian Cortes’ 18th-minute penalty set Cruz Azul on their way to victory in Group Six. Edixon Perea made the game safe (54) before Javier Orozco Penuelas and Emanuel Villa gave the scoreline a more emphatic look.
In Group Three, Bolivar took a first-minute lead against Union through Edemir Rodriguez but were pegged back by two goals in five minutes from Mauro Diaz (62) and Emanuel Herrera (66). Substitute Jean Paul Pineda scored a late third for the visitors.
Arsenal Sarandi bounced back from their opening Group… Continue reading Second wins for Union and Cruz Azul
Lock Alun Wyn Jones and captain Sam Warburton return for Wales’ Triple Crown bid against England on Saturday.
Unbeaten Wales have made three changes to the pack that started their
.
Hooker Ken Owens will make his first Wales start because Matthew Rees and Huw Bennett have calf injuries.
Osprey Jones will play his first Wales game since the World Cup, ousting team-mate Ryan Jones, who hands back the captaincy to openside Warburton.
Warburton was forced to miss the victory over the Scots because of a dead leg.
Alun Wyn Jones, who win his 60th cap, is back
World number one Luke Donald has been drawn to meet three-time major winner Ernie Els in the WGC Match Play Championship this week.
Donald, the defending champion, will be hoping to reproduce his incredible 2011 form when he won all six of his matches before the 18th hole.
Tiger Woods will play Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in Wednesday’s opening round at Dove Mountain.
Rory McIlroy begins his campaign against South African George Coetzee.
Lee Westwood faces Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts at the Arizona course, while Sergio Garcia takes on fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Bill Haas, winner of Sunday’s Northern Trust Open, tees off against Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa while Dustin Johnson meets his… Continue reading Donald to face Els at Match Play
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