Kaymer leads at Abu Dhabi championship

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Martin Kaymer closed strong Thursday and grabbed a 1-stroke lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

Kaymer had three birdies in his final five holes and finished with a 6-under-par 66. Henrik Stenson was in second place at 5-under 67 while Robert Karlsson, Ignacio Garrido, Peter Hedblom, Adam Scott and Lee Westwood were tied for third at 4-under 68.

Kaymer opened his round with an eagle at the par-5 10th hole. He gave one of the strokes back at No. 15 but birdied 18 to make the turn at 2-under. He added a birdied at the second hole but really took off beginning at the fifth hole.

Birdies at the fifth and sevenths holes pulled Kaymer into a tie with Stenson at the top of the leaderboard and took the outright advantage with a bird at No. 9.

Stenson, who also started on the back nine Thursday, had a string of three birdies from 13-15 and made his turn at 4-under. He had two bogeys and three birdies on the front side for his 67.