World
number three Ernie Els fought back with a three-under-par 69 in
the Qatar Masters on Friday but trails halfway leader Richard Green
of Australia by seven shots heading into the weekend.
After opening with a sluggish 73, the big South African quelled
fears of an early exit from the US$1.5 million event jointly sanctioned
by the Asian and European Tours with a battling round that included
five birdies at Doha Golf Club.
Green shot a sparkling 68 to finish atop the leaderboard on nine-under-par
135, one ahead of Swedish duo Pierre Fulke, the overnight leader
who returned a 70 and Robert Karlsson who fired a bogey-free 67.
For a man who dislikes windy conditions and had booked an early
flight home in anticipation of missing the cut, Thailand's Thaworn
Wiratchant (pictured) was certainly flying high with a 68 for fourth
place, two behind the leader.
India's Arjun Atwal, Asia's number one in 2003, moved into prime
position with a 69 that left him four off the pace despite playing
with a borrowed driver and a brand new putter after his two favourite
clubs went missing before the start of his round.
All eyes were on Els who was in danger of missing his first cut
in six years on the European Tour after his poor start. But the
"Big Easy" showed his class in tough windy conditions
yet again at the impressive Doha course.
Fresh from an unprecedented third victory in Dubai on Sunday, Els
is still eyeing back-to-back wins but conceded he has yet to tame
this week's course. "I can't really put my finger on it here.
A lot of times, you hit what you think is a good shot and it finishes
no where. I hit a lot of good shots but the ball scatters away from
the hole. At least I played better," said Els.
The three-time Major winner is confident of reeling in the leaders.
"I can't see the guys going very low on this course. I need
a really quality weekend and that's what I'm looking forward to.
At least I'm here for the weekend!" said Els.
The unorthodox swinging Thaworn struggled on his front nine and
did not hit a single fairway, turning in 37. But the Thai enjoyed
a blazing finish, shooting five birdies on his inward journey.
"It was too windy early on but on the back nine, the wind
died down and I started hitting more fairways. I had a really nice
finish with five birdies. Even after a 69 on Thursday, I thought
it'll be tough to make the cut. I'll be changing my flight home
to Sunday now!" said Thaworn.
"I'm using a Scottish caddie who used to work at the club
previously and he is helping with the yardages and judging the wind.
We've worked well so far and I'm looking for a good finish,"
added the reigning Taiwan Open champion.
Atwal had a startling start to his day. At the range for his warm-up,
he realised his driver and putter were missing from his bag and
he hurriedly borrowed a different make driver from compatriot Amandeep
Johl and bought a similar putter from the club's pro-shop before
going on to shoot a 69.
"It's strange huh? It's never happened to me before. We went
to the range and we didn't check our clubs. We started warming up
and I said 'where's the driver and my caddie said there isn't a
driver'. So I borrowed Amandeep's but I didn't like it at all as
the shaft was a bit weak for me. I started with a snap hook and
I hooked it every time I hit it. I used my three wood most of the
day," said Atwal, who has won two European Tour-sanctioned
events in his career.
"If I get a decent driver, I have a chance. I'm going to ask
a few guys around if they have the same type or a stronger shaft,"
added the Indian star, who also plays on the US PGA Tour.
The left-handed Green is gunning for a Gulf double, having won
his lone European Tour victory at the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic.
The 34-year-old Aussie is however wary of a potential weekend charge
from Els.
"You can never write him off. He's number three in the world
and renowned for shooting low scores. I wouldn't mind betting he
puts together a six under round or something like that. It would
be awesome (to complete a Gulf double) but there is a long way to
go," said Green, who enjoyed his best year in Europe last season
by finishing 17th on the money list.
Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand carded a second
straight 71 and will start the third round tied with his playing
partner for two rounds, Els. He had a strong outward nine, turning
in 33 with four birdies against a dropped shot but was blown off
course on the inward journey with three bogeys against a birdie
on his last hole, the par five ninth.
"The wind was changing a lot and I misjudged some shots coming
in. But I was happy with my overall play. I only missed two fairways
and four greens in these tough conditions and there are two rounds
to go to catch up," said the 58th ranked Thongchai, who is
looking to break into the top-50 to secure a start in the US Masters
in April.
The cut was set at 145, with 75 players qualifying for the weekend
rounds. Last year's champion Joakim Haeggman of Sweden missed the
mark by one stroke.
Leading second round scores
135 - Richard Green (AUS) 67-68
136 - Pierre Fulke (SWE) 66-70, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 69-67
137 - Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-68
138 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 70-68, Gregory Havret (FRA) 71-67,
David Park (WAL) 68-70
140 - Marcus Fraser (AUS) 69-71, Barry Lane (ENG) 71-69, Henrik
Stenson (SWE) 67-73, Anthony Kang (USA) 68-72, Maarten Lafeber (NLD)
69-71
141 - Nobuhito Sato (JPN) 69-72, Christopher Hanell (SWE) 71-70,
Robert Coles (ENG) 71-70, Nick Dougherty (ENG) 73-68, Miles Tunnicliff
(ENG) 73-68, Miguel Angel Martin (ESP) 70-71, Clay Devers (USA)
70-71, Paul Broadhurst (ENG) 73-68
142 - James Kingston (RSA) 70-72, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 71-71,
Ernie Els (RSA) 73-69, Shaun Webster (ENG) 73-69, Soren Hansen (DEN)
70-72, Anders Hansen (DEN) 71-71, Paul Mcginley (IRE) 71-71, Graeme
Storm (ENG) 71-71
143 - Garry Houston (WAL) 67-76, Andrew Pitts (USA) 69-74, David
Drysdale (SCO) 70-73, Marten Olander (SWE) 71-72, David Lynn (ENG)
72-71, Christian Cevaer (FRA) 73-70, Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 70-73,
Anthony Wall (ENG) 70-73, Peter Hedblom (SWE) 70-73, Prayad Marksaeng
(THA) 71-72, Richard Sterne (RSA) 72-71, Louis Oosrhuizen (RSA)
72-71, Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 73-70, Lee Sung-Man (KOR) 73-70, Johan
Axgren (SWE) 74-69, Jose-Filipe Lima (POR) 75-68
World
number three Ernie Els fought back with a three-under-par 69 in
the Qatar Masters on Friday but trails halfway leader Richard Green
of Australia by seven shots heading into the weekend.
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