Simon Dyson leads into the weekend

Asian expert Simon Dyson eclipsed the stars yet again as a three-under-par 69 kept him in front of the big guns at the halfway stage of the US$1.5 million BMW Asian Open today.

Englishman Dyson, winner of three titles in Asia during his rookie year in 2000, enjoyed a superb back nine at Tomson Golf Club with four birdies and opened up a two-shot lead. Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, bidding for his third title of the year, matched Dyson's opening day course record of 66 to cruise into tied second place alongside Europe's Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley of Ireland, who returned a 69.

Australian great Greg Norman battled to a 72 on a tough scoring day to lie four off the pace with Chinese torchbearer Zhang Lian-wei, a blemish free 69 hauling the local favourite into the title frame. The BMW Asian Open is the first event in China to be co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours and China Golf Association.

“Yeah, beautiful,” said Dyson, who won the national Opens of China, Hong Kong and Macau en route to the Order of Merit title in Asia four years ago. “It's nice to be leading, that's what you play for. It feels good as there are some very good names behind me. I've got to play very well if I'm going to be there on Sunday.”

The 26-year-old Dyson bogeyed the eighth but came charging back on the inward nine, a tap-in birdie on 10 slipping his game into top gear. He birdied 13, 14 and 17, the last with a less than crisp iron shot into the demanding 213-yard par three. “I must admit that on 17, I wasn't playing for it to pitch that far short of the flag but it pitched on the fringe and hopped up to the hole. I'll take it. I feel a lot more at home in Asia . I feel it is more relaxed out here than it is back home. I love coming back. I enjoy the courses and everyone makes you feel so welcomed,” said Dyson, who recently made a return from an elbow injury while playing tennis.

Jimenez, 40, lurks as a threat as he seeks to land an Asian double, following his victory in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand in January. “I played really well, hit it good from tee to green and holed some putts. I was consistent,” said the man nicknamed ‘The Mechanic'.

Currently third on the European Tour money ranking, the pony-tailed Spaniard claimed a victory in Portugal as well and like Dyson, he is feeling right at home in the Far East. “I love Asia . I love this part of the world. It's nice to be here. It's nice weather, super golf course and nice people. That makes me happy. I'm playing well this year. I feel good … I feel happy and don't have any worries. I don't worry if my ball goes left or goes right, long or short, it doesn't matter. You play golf, be yourself and be happy. The way I've been hitting, I've got a chance this week,” said Jimenez.

McGinley, who holed the winning putt for Europe in the 2002 Ryder Cup against the United States , was delighted to throw his name into the hat of possible winners for the third BMW Asian Open. He made a return to competition last week after spending more than a month on the sidelines following a knee surgery.

“It is always a good round when there are no bogeys. Nice to par the last as it was tough playing into the wind, into the rain. I hit a driver, five iron and five iron. It was a tough hole and I had to hole out from six feet for par. But you have to play well at the weekend. There are a lot of guys bunched together. I played quite decently last week (British Masters). I started well here so it makes me feel good,” said the Irishman.

A poor driving day saw Norman , who was top of the driving accuracy stat on Thursday, endure a roller-coaster round which included four birdies against as many dropped shots. But the Great White Shark was not perturbed to trail by four. “It was a little difficult. I wasn't as sharp and I didn't drive the ball well. If you're not driving the ball, you put yourself in tough positions to get to the hole. Four back is not a problem for me. I just need to get a bunch of birdies at the weekend,” said the 49-year-old Norman .

Asian Tour old hand Greg Hanrahan bogeyed his last two holes for a 71 for tied fourth place on 138 with Germany 's Alex Cejka, Australian Adam Groom and Frenchman Jean-Francois Lucquin. “I've made three bogeys in two days and that's not too bad. But to finish with two bogeys, it hurts. If I made them earlier, I wouldn't feel so bad. But I don't feel bad now. I'm playing solid, no complaints. The weekend? That's when we start dancing,” said the animated American, who finished second behind Colin Montgomerie in Singapore in March.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland scrambled to a second straight 72 as he remained stuck in first gear at the BMW Asian Open. The world number eight is wishing for Lady Luck to be on his side after burning the edges of the holes during his round. “I hit a lot of good putts close. It's just the nature of golf. You can try as hard as you like but some days, it adds up to a 72. I've plenty of days when I played a lot worse but shot a lot better. It wouldn't be hell of a lot for me to turn it around with a 66. That's what I'll need to shoot at the weekend,” said Harrington.

Zhang is hoping to challenge at the weekend but is feeling the pressure of performing in front of his adoring fans. He was rock solid today with a bogey free card. “There is a lot of pressure on me whenever I play here. I was nervous and couldn't putt. I didn't have any feel and missed several short putts for birdie.”

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