Brotherly love pays dividends for Lee at Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

Scotsman shares lead with Cabrera-Bello while Willett makes big move up leaderboard

Craig Lee rode his improved short game to a tie for the second-round lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

ABU DHABI // As perhaps an early Christmas present, Craig Lee’s brother installed a putting green in his sibling’s front garden late last year to help him improve upon the weakest component of his game.

The 20x14 foot construction, carpeted in artificial turf, has since caused quite a stir among his neighbours in central Scotland, with those next door regularly peering over the fence to catch a sneak peak of how a professional golfer goes about his business.

Following a scintillating five-under 67 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship on Friday, Lee will have to handle a few more eyeballs sizing him up this weekend. The world No 209, whose career-high finish is a play-off defeat at last September’s European Masters, sits perched atop the leader board at the halfway stage on nine-under, sharing the summit with Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

After Lee found his form on the greens to reel off seven second-round birdies, some brotherly love must surely be making its way back home.

“I think that’s made a big difference,” Lee said of the new practice facility, although he may have to extend his affections a little farther. “I think Santa brought me a good putting stroke for Christmas.”

Separate gifts they may have been, but they are proving a fine combination. Since first taking his place on Europe’s main circuit in 2008 – he failed to retain his card beyond the season before returning again in 2012 – Lee has always been considered a fine ball-striker.

It was his short game that usually let him down, yet signs toward the end of 2013 hinted he could be set to finally fulfil his potential. That runner-up finish in autumnal Switzerland, when Thomas Bjorn snatched the trophy on the first extra hole, has added significant spring to Lee’s step.

“Just got to take all the confidence from that and put it into practice,” he said. “I’ve been in this position a few times and feel a lot more relaxed. That’s got to help as well.”

Cabrera-Bello finds himself in familiar locale, too, both figuratively and geographically. An ever-more-frequent fixture on leader boards and winner of the Dubai Desert Classic in 2012, the Spaniard continues to underscore his liking for the UAE.

It is the sunshine, sand and palm trees that make the Gran Canaria-born native feel at home out here, he said, and he certainly seemed settled enough to shoot 68.

But he does not want to dwell on a good two days’ work.

“Excited approaching the weekend in such a good position,” Cabrera-Bello said. “But more than that, I’m feeling good with all the clubs in the bag and looking forward to the competition to come.”

The contest is not confined solely to the two at the top. England’s Danny Willett confirmed he also has not encountered any equipment problems, firing a best-of-the-day 63 to leave him one off the pace.

Such a scenario would have appeared pretty fanciful at the midpoint of his first round, when Willett had sunk to five-over par through 10 “crazy” holes. Since then, he surfaced to post 11 birdies and an eagle.

What has changed? Not much.

“To be honest, I’ve not done a massive amount differently,” he said. “Played nice, hit a few more fairways, hit it a little closer and rolled in a few putts.”

While the top three radiated a mixture of excitement and confidence, the chasing pack may set knees knocking somewhat. In a trio tied on seven-under resides Rory McIlroy and Bjorn, a duo with 32 professional victories between them. Not that he needed to, but Bjorn spelt out the objective.

“I am here trying to win golf tournaments,” he said. “That’s the most important thing at the moment.”