Garcia takes early second-round lead

Sergio Garcia shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to move into an early three-way share of the lead in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The Spaniard reached 11-under despite continuing to feel pain from a hand injury sustained at the Dubai World Championship in November.

“With the hand problem and bad weather at home I have not been able to practice as much as I would have liked, so getting into the lead has exceeded my expectations here," Garcia said.

“I feel I have played nicely but there were shots where I could have been a bit more positive. But when you have been unable to practice as much as you want doubts do creep in."

Garcia was joined at 11-under by Ireland's Shane Lowry, who had seven birdies in a round of 65, and Sweden's Peter Hanson, who shot a 67.

It was Lowry's first appearance at the top of the leaderboard since turning professional after his victory, as an amateur, in the Irish Open last May.

On a second day of hot desert sunshine and barely any wind to prevent low scoring, there were still some strugglers in a field containing eight of the world's top 20.

The most notable player to lose ground on the leaders was England's Lee Westwood, who started his second round with four bogeys and fell 11 shots off the pace.

Two shots further was back was his Australian playing partner Geoff Ogilvy, who began 2010 by winning the SBS Championship.

One of the three first-round leaders, England's Ian Poulter, was unable to repeat his 7-under start. He had a round of 70 and was two shots off the lead.

Italy's Francesco Molinari had a hole-in-one at the 174-yard fourth hole with his 7-iron tee shot.