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Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off at 15th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Emirates Abu Dhabi Championship Golf Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off at 15th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Adam Scott of Australia tees off at 12th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland acknowledges the crowd after he playing his shot at the 12th green during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot at the 13th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark plays his second shot at the 12th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Paul Waring hit the shot of his life to complete a career-low 11-under 61 in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday and establish a five-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the European tour’s first playoff event.

The No. 229-ranked Englishman hit a draw with a 3-wood from about 260 yards to inside 4 feet at No. 18 and tapped in the birdie putt to move to 19-under par for the tournament.

The European tour confirmed to The Associated Press that it is the lowest 36-hole score to par in the tour’s history.

Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links and set a course record.

First-round leader Tommy Fleetwood of England (68), Johannes Veerman of the United States (67) and Danish players Niklas Norgaard (65) and Thorbjorn Olesen (67) were tied for second place on 14 under.

Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67 and was nine strokes off the lead.

McIlroy can clinch a sixth Race to Dubai title with a win this week.

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