Charlie Wi commands the halfway lead after the second day of the Dubai Desert Classic but the little known Korean cannot afford to relax with a buoyant Ernie Els breathing down his neck.
Wi leads by one shot from Els on nine-under 135 after today’s 67, which included two spates of birdies three from the third and four in a row from the 13th, while Els carded a second successive 68.
Els, fresh from his win at the Genuity Championship last week, remained patient and finished off his round with a spectacular eagle at the last. The South African successfully made the water-surrounded green with a long iron from the sandy waste area left of the hole and made the putt to sign off with a grandstand three.
Belfast amateur, Michael Hoey, outshone his five professional compatriots on the sun-drenched Emirates course with a fine second round 68. He leads the Irish challenge on two-under 142.
Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington both had frustrating days to narrowly make the cut on one-over despite Clarke having a blistering start.
Clarke made birdies on the opening three holes to get within six of Wi on three-under. However, his efforts were thwarted with bogeys at the fifth and seventh and the day was summed up with a double-bogey seven at the last.
Harrington’s disappointment culminated in a three-over 75. Last year the Dubliner finished joint runner-up alongside Tiger Woods behind the eventual winner, Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, but today was a far-cry from the highs of 12 months ago.
Bjorn, making his first European Tour appearance of the season, found his defence more difficult on the second day. The Dane dropped back to four-under with a second round 73 but still remains a threat five shots off the pace.
Of the remaining Irish players, Eamonn Darcy and Ronan Rafferty both found different ways to finish on three-over. Darcy, the Druids Glen touring pro, recovered with a 70 while Rafferty slipped back with his 75.
Starting with a double-bogey at the first and at least four other bogeys on the card, Des Smyth will want to forget today’s 77. Last year’s Madeira Open winner was well off the pace on seven-over.
Colin Montgomerie was a surprising casualty at the halfway stage. The former European number one, playing the back nine first, signed-off with a bogey and triple-bogey on his final two holes for a round of 79 to finish on six-over.