Tyrrell Hatton followed up a blistering first round with a one-under par second round 71 to stay in contention at the Abu Dhabi Championship.

The Marlow resident is shot a round of 66 on Thursday to put himself joint third on the leaderboard, but despite picking up another shot on Friday the 23-year-old has slipped down to eighth place.

Hatton is now six shots off the pace with world number 12 Martin Kaymer leading the way at the European Tour’s opening event of the season.

World number one Rory McIlroy is one of those to move above the Harleyford golf member after he finished six-under for the second round taking him to 12 under for the tournament.

Hatton will tee off his third round early on Saturday at the Abu Dhabi golf club.