McIlroy records first pro hole-in-one to be two shots adrift of lead at Abu Dhabi

World number one golfer Rory McIlroy is only two shots off the lead after recording his first professional hole-in-one on day two of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

McIlroy's towering nine-iron at the 177-yard 15th pitched a foot from the flag before trickling in, and he birdied the last to finish on 11 under, two shots adrift of leader Martin Kaymer, who did not drop a shot in adding a 67 to his opening 64.

McIlroy's shot was the third ace of the week after Tom Lewis at the seventh and Miguel Angel Jimenez at the 15th, the BBC reported.

Big-hitting Belgian golfer Thomas Pieters, who was runner-up to Jimenez after a play-off at last year's Spanish Open, also reached 13 under before dropping a shot at the ninth, his final hole.

McIlroy claimed that his hole-in-one was a perfect number, straight downwind 177 yards, and added that it took a nice little hop to the right, so he insisted the obviously the beers are on him.

The Northern Irishman also said that it wasn't one of his goals for the year but added that it's a nice little bonus.