Charl Schwartzel leads at halfway - Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

Schwartzel eagled the par five 10th and rolled in five birdies, and a bogey, for a nine-under-par 135, one shot ahead of Denmark's Soren Hansen and Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina who had exploited calm conditions in the morning.

Hansen followed his opening day 70 with a superb 66 while Gonzales carded a back-to-back 68. The chasing pack, led by world number two Vijay Singh, struggled after the wind rose in the afternoon.

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand shot 69 to lie seven-under after two rounds of the European Tour event.

At six under were Fiji's Singh (70), Chris DiMarco (67), Gregory Havret, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Sweden's Henrik Stenson, Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima and Britain's David Lynn.

"I am striking the ball well," said Schwartzel. "I basically play for pars and if you get birdie opportunities along the way, try and convert them.

"I don't like playing in strong winds, it makes you think hard. But I am pretty calm out there and play my own game. Overall, I am pleased happy the way things are shaping."

American John Daly and Niclas Fasth of Sweden missed the cut which was made at level par. They finished 36 holes at three over par.

"I think I really played well," Hansen told reporters. "I am very, very, very pleased to be in this position. It's my first tournament in a long time and I am just going to press on."

The Dane shot five birdies and one bogey on the front nine and picked up shots on the 15th and 18th.

"When the wind is blowing, as will be the case at the weekend, you just have to press on and play your own game - that's the key word," said the 31-year-old.

Gonzales was pleased with his consistency off the tee.

"I hit the driver well and that was the reason that I was again able to shoot a 68. Conditions were really perfect, but I am a little disappointed to drop my only shot of the day at the last hole," he said.

Early morning chats with his children enlivened the mood of DiMarco. "I played a very solid round, making five birdies - three in a row, starting from the second - and no bogeys," said American who carded a 71 on Thursday.

"I would feel great to win here in a field like this. The feeling will be all the more special since it's an inaugural event."