SCott pulls three shots ahead

Australian sensation Adam Scott kept up the pace at the Qatar Masters on Friday, adding a 66 to his opening 67 to lead at the halfway point by three shots.

The 21-year-old picked up birdies on the first, fourth and seventh to go into the turn on the eight-under-par mark, an eagle on 15 and birdie on 17 capping a fine day.

There was no doubt though about the shot of the day, his superb five iron approach from 200 yards out on the 15th landing 25 feet from the pin before disappearing into the cup.

He admitted afterwards: "You need a little bit of luck now and again because I certainly didn’t expect it to go in.

"I was saying to my caddie the other day that it has been about five years since I holed a full iron shot like that in play, so perhaps I was due one!"

Scott has made a slow start to the year, with four 70 plus rounds in the Dubai Desert Classic last week leaving him back in a lowly share of 46th place.

Scott added: "I’ll just continue hopefully to keep playing the way I have been playing.

"I can’t control what other players are going to do but if I keep playing the way I have over the first couple of days then I think it will be good enough."

Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara and the Scandinavian duo of Klas Eriksson and Anders Hansen are all on eight-under-par, with Eriksson falling back after a disappointing 70.

He revealed: "I played pretty solidly all the way round but I just couldn’t quite get anything going until the end.

"It was a little bit frustrating but conditions were a little tougher too with the wind getting up a bit and the greens were firmer.

"But the birdies at the 16th and 17th gave me a good chance for tomorrow.

"I am playing well and feeling really comfortable over the ball. My confidence is high and I’m really hoping for good things over the weekend."

Three players are currently in fifth place on seven-under-par, Frenchman Jean Francois Remesy shooting a 69 to join the Scottish duo of Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie.

Monty partnered Scott and explained: "It was a big swing on the 15th because all of a sudden I was four behind.

"But there are only two days gone and I’m playing well and I’m confident for the weekend."

Former Masters champion Ian Woosnam is among a host of players a shot further back, while first round leader Joakim Haeggman dropped down the leaderboard on the back of a poor 73.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page