Ernie Els took advantage of cooler morning conditions to fire a second round six-under 65 and grab a share of the lead at the Singapore Open on Friday.
The South African mixed five birdies with an eagle and a bogey to stand on six-under par 136 for the tournament, a total matched in the afternoon by overnight co-leader Scott Strange of Australia, who carded a two-under 69 at Sentosa Golf Club.
The leading pair are one shot clear of Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and two ahead of Japan’s Shingo Katayama and Australian Brad Kennedy.
Defending champion Adam Scott of Australia is well placed after moving to three-under par following a tidy second round of 69 at the $3-million Asian Tour event.
World number seven Els, who arrived in Singapore on Sunday to get acclimatised to the conditions, had struggled to an even-par 71 in the sapping afternoon heat on Thursday.
But the morning conditions on Friday clearly suited the 36-year-old, who shot the lowest round of the day.
”It was much cooler this morning,” Els told reporters.
”It was very humid but we did not have the heat. The last four or five holes got a bit hotter though but it was good to play in the morning.”
The South African struggled on the greens in his opening round and it was his improvement with the putter that helped him move up the leaderboard.
”The greens are very nice,” he added.
”I hit a nice putt on the fifth and a long one on the 14th. They broke the ice because I did not make a putt yesterday [Thursday].”
Back trouble
Battling a sore back that required extensive treatment after the fifth hole (his 14th), Strange was poised to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend before a bogey at his last hole dropped him back into a tie with Els.
The 29-year-old from Perth went out in an even par 35 before five birdies and three bogeys on the back nine took him to two-under for the day.
Australia’s Scott, who shot 70 in the first round, said his golf had deserved a better score on Friday.
”I felt I played a little bit better than what I shot today,” Scott said.
”I had a few putts that went by the edge and drove into the water on my last hole of the day [the ninth] to drop a shot.
”But I am pretty happy and I will need to pick up the pace over the weekend to give Ernie a run.”
Cabrera recorded just one bogey in his round of 68 leaving the world number 23 in a strong position.
”I am really happy to be one shot off the lead,” he said.
”But I am not worried about Ernie, I’m just worried about my own game. If I play my best, I will have a chance to win.”
Fresh from a victory in Japan at the weekend, Katayama moved quietly up the leaderboard with a second straight 69 and the 33-year-old said he wanted to play more in Asia.
”This is just my second tournament in Asia outside of Japan and I am really enjoying it,” he said.
”I like the atmosphere, the course set up and the crowds. I would like to play more tournaments in Asia in the years to come.”
European Ryder Cup players Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood experienced contrasting rounds in the afternoon.
McGinley slumped to a 78 to finish on 12 over, missing the projected cut by seven strokes, while last year’s runner-up Westwood carded a 69 to stand on even par for the tournament after 36 holes. – Reuters