Tiger Woods is off to a strong start to his 2012 season, tied for fourth with Rory McIlroy and five others after two rounds at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, two shots behind leader Thorbjorn Olesen from Denmark. Tiger is at 5-under for the tournament after shooting a 3-under 69 in the second round, while McIlroy would be tied for the lead if not for a rules violation that cost him a two-stroke penalty.

“I thought I played well today; I hit the ball just as well as I did yesterday and made a couple more putts today, which is nice,” said Tiger. “But the golf course is playing difficult. It’s starting to speed up a little bit and the greens were quicker, drier, and it was tough. No one is going low. Everyone’s pretty bunched and I think we have a majority of the field within nine shots of the lead.”

Tiger’s play impressed World Number One Luke Donald, who’s six shots off the lead after playing the first two rounds with Tiger and McIlroy. “Yesterday [Tiger's] control of his golf ball was as good as I’ve seen it … 13 greens, he was shaping it both ways, and so that’s always a daunting sign for us,” said Donald. “He looked like he didn’t hit it as well today, but he scored better because of the short game, and I’m one who knows all too well that you don’t have to hit it great to win.”

Two-time defending champion and pre-tournament co-favorite Martin Kaymer failed to make the cut, unable to recover from a first round 77. The leader Olesen is ranked No. 173 in the world and in his second year on the European Tour, he’s looking for his first victory after three second-place finishes last year. “It was a bit of a shame to finish with a bogey six at the last but overall I played really well,” said the Dane, who sounds a bit starstruck. “If Tiger plays well, he’s unbeatable, I think. But I just try to play my own game and try to be up there on Sunday and play well. … For me, it’s very special. It’s not many years ago I was watching them on TV. Of course it’s special and I know it’s tough, but I’m trying to keep playing my own game and do my best.”