Els one behind leader Wi

Ernie Els fired his second consecutive 68 to move into a menacing position at the halfway point in the Dubai Desert Classic, just one shot behind leader Charlie Wi.

The South African played a sublime approach shot, which he later ranked in his all-time top three, to set him up for an eagle on the 18th and a mark of 8-under-par.

His final hole heroics did not quite give him the lead but he only trails Korean Wi by one shot, the Korean recording a 9-under-par halfway total after a second-round 67.

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn had claimed a share of the lead after the first round, finishing level with fellow Scandinavian Robert Karlsson, both players posting 5-under-par 67s.

The second round, though, was all about the 32-year-old Els, who only last week won the Genuity Championship on the US PGA Tour.

Els and Wi will tee off in the final group with John Bickerton of England and Niclas Fasth of Sweden in joint third, one shot behind Els.

It was a disappointing day for former Dubai champion Colin Montgomerie, who could only manage a 7-over-par round of, the Scot a forlorn figure after missing the cut on the 6-over mark.

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