Thomas Pieters played in Abu Dhabi last year on a sponsors’ invitation, and even though 12 months have passed, he is making that decision look very good indeed.

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The 22-year-old from Belgium, who missed the cut last year, followed up his superb 65 on Thursday with an equally impressive five-under-par 67 yesterday. That put him just one shot behind Abu Dhabi expert Martin Kaymer, but one ahead of world No1 Rory McIlroy.

The 6ft 6in Pieters is quickly making himself famous with a strong game. He almost won a tournament in his first year on the European Tour before losing in a play-off to Miguel Angel Jimenez in Open de Espana last May, and his hitting is almost as impressive and long as compatriot Nicolas ‘Belgian Bomber’ Colsaerts.

With six birdies in his first 17 holes, Pieters had caught up with Kaymer, but he then made an unfortunate bogey on the tough par-4 ninth hole – his finishing hole after starting from the first.

He said: “It was a solid day. I started off well, but just struggled coming in a little bit. I rolled it well with my putter, so that was nice,” he said. “I want to win, that’s for sure.

I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to win. But I have to be patient, drive it well, drive it straight and make some putts.”

Meanwhile, England’s James Morrison and American Peter Uihlein were tied fourth at nine-under.

The cut was applied at two-under par 142, and world No2 Henrik Stenson (68) and defending champion Pablo Larrazabal (72) were among those who could not make it to the weekend.

World No6 Justin Rose (69) and No10 Rickie Fowler (75) were right on the cutline at two-under par 142.