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Karlsson moves two shots clear

Sweden's Robert Karlsson held a two-shot lead over the field on 11-under-par, adding a 70 to his course record 63 in the first round.

France's Olivier Edmond and New Zealander Elliot Boult shared second on nine under with Scotland's Dean Robertson, Austrian Markus Brier and Argentinian Angel Cabrera a shot further back.

Darcy was four shots off the pace, but definitely in the hunt given his experience of playing in the windy conditions that prevail here, the former Ryder Cup player also enjoying a new lease of life after getting married in December.

"I'm right back in the tournament," said Darcy, who lost his card last season but finished 12th in his 2001 debut in Dubai last week.

"The leaders were just going out as I finished but I knew they'd find it hard in the wind because it was a much tougher day than yesterday.

"I'm really looking forward to the weekend now, I'll give it a lash! I hit the ball nicely in Dubai and surprised myself a bit because I hadn't played any golf before that. I took a four-month break which I always do.

"I try to get away from it all to recharge the batteries for the season ahead. When I'm away I like to ride horses and do a bit of hunting but that is all stopped at the moment because of the foot and mouth outbreak which has been pretty bad."

Karlsson has won three times on the tour - the last coming in Belgium in 1999 - but admitted it would be a novel experience trying to lead from start to finish.

"It's always nicer to be chasing than to being chased but it's something I have to learn," said the 31-year-old, who narrowly missed out on a place in the 1999 Ryder Cup team.

"I'm usually pretty good under pressure but I don't put myself in that position often enough. I'm looking forward to getting that experience and whatever happens I will take a lot from it."

Edmond was rookie of the year in Europe in 1998 but missed most of the following season after being diagnosed with cancer, returning on a medical exemption last season after successful chemotherapy treatment.

"For the first two months you don't know what is going on, you don't really understand what is happening," Edmond said after also matching Karlsson's 70.

"At first they said I would just need an operation but then I had to have chemotherapy and after the third course I was unable to eat and drink for eight days.

"It's an experience that makes you feel alone. Even if my wife and parents were there you feel on your own, it's difficult to put into words.

"But hopefully, touch wood, I am now okay and I just go for checks every three months."

Robertson meanwhile was happy for the wind to continue blowing as he sought his second tour title to go with the Italian Open he won in 1999.

"I'm nicely placed without a doubt," said the 30-year-old Teesside-based Scot after his second successive 68. "If it blows over the weekend that will be good. I think that's why the Scots have done well here in the past (Andrew Coltart and Paul Lawrie have both won here).

"I'm not transferring my play on the range onto the course but it's still early in the season. I need to get in contention on a consistent basis. You can't win by just doing it once.

"I have a lot of room for improvement but I've put myself in a good position."

Coltart and Lawrie both made the cut comfortably on four and six-under-par respectively while Thomas Bjorn was also four under after a 71 and defending champion Rolf Muntz on five under.

Joint overnight leader Mark Pilkington did not fare so well, the 22-year-old Welshman slumping to a 79, 16 shots worse than his first round to finish two under par, just one shot inside the cut which fell at 143.

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