Rory McIlroy makes 'cheat' admission after bouncing back in style at Abu Dhabi Championship

Rory McIlroy revealed he would much rather be two shots worse off than be labelled a ‘cheat’ after bouncing back in style on day two of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The Northern Irishman was penalised two shots on Thursday after officials determined that he had improved his lie on the 12th hole after video evidence appeared. That meant he carded a quadruple-bogey eight rather than his original double-bogey.

That turned his 68 into a 70, leaving him eight shots off the pace at Yas Links. McIlroy needed a response on Friday and he certainly delivered, shooting a superb 9-under 63 to vault into a tie for fourth.

Speaking after his round, McIlroy told reporters that he wasn’t going to let the incident affect him ahead of Friday.

“I honestly, I guess, before I left the course, I made peace with it,” said the 37-year-old.

“I didn't dwell on it or I didn't feel like I did anything wrong. But then at the same time, I said the video didn't look good, like the close-up of it.

“So, again, I just never wanted the perception, people feeling like I got away with something. Yeah, I just wouldn't want that sitting with me.

“So I was happy -- I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat. So that's what I did, and I made peace with it. At least I went out today, like it wasn't playing on my mind. I had a clear conscience, and I could just go and play.”

Former LIV Golf duo Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are out in front on 12-under par alongside Francesco Laporta.

Hatton went low with a 65, while Rahm posted a 67. Laporta, who fired a stunning 10-under 62 on Thursday, added a 70 on Friday.

McIlroy finds himself in a four-way tie for fourth alongside recent Dunhill Links winner Adrian Meronk, Sam Bairstow and Matt Jordan.

McIlroy storms back into contention with stunning 63

McIlroy began the week ranked third in the Race to Dubai standings, seeking to win the order of merit crown for an eighth time, joining Colin Montgomerie in the process.

Things looked ominous for the six-time major winner as he bogeyed the first, but responded by picking up shots on the second, fourth and seventh.

Five consecutive birdies from nine to 13 saw him storm up the leaderboard and McIlroy could even afford to bogey the 14th before finishing off with birdies on 17 and 18.

That was the first time he had ever recorded 11 birdies during a round of a DPWT tournament and McIlroy saw plenty of positives on Friday.

“I did everything well again,” remarked McIlroy. “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 of months.

“I finished second at Wentworth. Felt like if I had holed any putts at the weekend, I could have walked away with the win there. Struggled on the greens in India.

“But did some work with Brad Faxon last week and feel like I'm in a better spot with it. I definitely saw some encouraging signs on the greens today.”

His chase for a fifth successive Race to Dubai crown was also aided by his two rivals stumbling at Yas Links.

Eugenio Chacaara and Patrick Reed struggle in Race to Dubai chase

Ahead of the penultimate tournament of the season, McIlroy trailed Chacarra and Reed by 999 and 329.7 points respectively.

While he was scorching his way around Yas Links on Friday, both of his rivals couldn’t quite get things going.

Chacarra opened up with four straight birdies to vault up the leaderboard, yet could only shoot a 1-under 71 to trail McIlroy by eight shots.

Reed began the tournament by firing an errant-strewn round of 74 on Thursday. He did improve by three shots today, but he currently sits at one-over and could well fall behind McIlroy in the standings unless an improvement is made over the weekend.

Round three gets underway at 7.15 am local time (3.15am GMT) on Friday morning.