Golf sensation Rory McIlroy incurred a mistake in round 2 that penalized him by two shots.

He was supposed to share the joint lead but the penalty costs him two shots behind that put him on the third alongside with Tiger Woods and five others.

The two shots penalty put a setback in his title bid at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Just off the green in two, McIlroy made the mistake of brushing away sand that was not on the putting surface and the penalty was imposed after a referee had been called.

McIlroy conceded he was guilty of a lack of concentration and being unsure of the rule.

The 22-year-old world No 3 fell back to three under par as a result, alongside Tiger Woods and two ahead of Luke Donald, the other member of the group, but four behind joint leaders Karlsson and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen, who added a 67 to his opening 70.

Lee Westwood, meanwhile, battled with a neck problem as he remained level par with another 72 and defending champion Martin Kaymer, winner three of the last four years – missed the cut after improving only four shots on his opening 77.

McIlroy was in two bunkers on the first hole and, with his ball plugged by the green, instantly dropped a shot before paying an even bigger price for going over the green at the third.

The former world No 1, seeking back-to-back victories after going more than two years without one, had his second birdie on the eighth, coming out of sand to eight feet and showing a better putting touch than he had in his opening 70.