Intro:

Rory McIlroy made his first competitive hole-in-one as a professional as part of a brilliant back nine that propelled his pursuit of Martin Kaymer in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Friday.

Script:

World number one, Rory McIlroy impressed crowds as he made his first competitive hole-in-one as a professional.

His 9-iron from 177 yards at the par-3 15th landed a yard from the hole, hopped right and trickled into the cup.

It was a part of his brilliant back nine that launched his pursuit of Martin Kaymer in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

SOUNDBITE Rory McIlroy:

"It was unexpected. I mean I had been playing well but I hadn't been putting so good, so that took the putting out of it thankfully, and didn't need to get the putter out on that hole. But yeah, I felt like at that point I'd missed a few opportunities, and I'd missed a couple of short ones on 13 and 14, so to be able to make up for that with hole-in-one on 15 was nice."

McIlroy's 6-under 66 puts him in third on 11-under and two shots behind Kaymer, who followed up an opening-round 64 with a 67, putting him in a great place to secure his fourth title at the National course.

SOUNDBITE Rory McIlroy:

"It's always tough giving Martin Kaymer a two-shot advantage over 36 holes around this place, but I'll try my best. He's obviously playing very well and I feel like I'm playing good as well, so see if I can put some pressure on him."