Graeme McDowell takes over lead with a 64 - Ballantine's Championship 2008

Briton Graeme McDowell stormed into the lead at the $2.9 million Ballantine’s Championship after firing a dazzling eight-under-par 64 in Friday’s second round.

The Northern Irishman had six birdies and an eagle to go to 12 under, two strokes clear of Sweden’s Johan Edfors and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh at the first European Tour-sanctioned tournament to be played in South Korea.

A late birdie rush had given Paul McGinley the early clubhouse lead, the Irishman shooting a 67 in gusty winds on the resort island of Jeju to reach the halfway stage at nine under.

McGinley was joined on nine under by South Korea’s Kim Hyung-tae after blustery conditions had delayed the start of the round by more than two hours at Pinx Golf Club.

A total of 47 players were unable to finish their rounds in fading light, McDowell among those who had to rush to get through the 18 holes.

“The sun was dropping pretty quickly,” McDowell told reporters. “It was pretty dark out there at the end. It’s a massive help to get a little bit of a lie-in tomorrow.”

McDowell credited Danish playing partner Thomas Bjorn for his low scoring in Jeju.

“We’ve been helping each other out a little bit,” said McDowell, twice a winner on the European Tour. “He gave me a bunker lesson and some putting tips yesterday.”

Bjorn recorded seven straight threes in a round of 66 but slipped away over the back nine as temperatures dropped and the gloom descended, holing out on eight under par.

Edfors’ 65 included a chip-in eagle at the par-five 10th, while Singh, still suffering dizzy spells after crashing his golf buggy into a palm tree at last week’s Malaysian Open, produced a 66 for a share of second place.

McGinley, meanwhile, said the heavy winds had helped him during Friday’s round.

“The wind made me feel like Tiger Woods,” he said.

“I still hit the ball a hell of a lot further than I used to but there’s only so much I can do—I’m five foot seven and have Irish genes.”

Kim joined McGinley at nine under after shooting 66.

“I have done a lot of weight training so I can play the sort of shots Tiger Woods does,” said the Korean. “I’m not quite up to Tiger’s level but it helped in the wind today.”

American Anthony Kim, whose Korean ancestry has triggered intense media interest, fired his second successive 68 to finish the day four strokes off the pace along with Bjorn and British Open champion Padraig Harrington. The Irishman had a 65.

Course marshals struggled to contain a thronging gallery straining for a glimpse of world number five KJ Choi, whose 69 left him on four under.

“When KJ’s done putting, the fans are all running to the next hole,” grinned Kim. “I still might have a five-footer. I had to take two or three deep breaths before I was ready to go.”

Three-times major runner-up Chris DiMarco, playing in the same group as Choi and Anthony Kim, shot a 68 to reach the midway point at six under.

“I missed a lot of birdie chances,” said Choi. “It’s so difficult to read these greens. If I get my putting going things will improve.”

Joint overnight leader Tony Carolan, who sacked his caddie after four holes during his first round and replaced him with a nervous-looking local girl, hit a three-over 75.

Clubhouse Scores