Lee Westwood added a round of 67 to his opening 68 to take a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Miyazaki, Japan.

A four-under-par score, which left Westwood seven under overall, was matched by Darren Clarke as the Irishman took his place in a group of three players poised to challenge.

Yet despite leading the field, Westwood, who won the Sumitomo VISA Taiheiyo Masters in Japan last week, was not happy with his game. "I'm putting well at the moment and driving it okay. It's the bit in the middle that's lacking," he said.

"As soon as I get a long iron in my hand it feels like I'm going to hit a poor shot. Some days you play below average and you have to be professional and get it around in as a few shots as possible."

Clarke's 67 lifted him from 15th place into a share of second on 137 alongside Japanese duo Kaname Yokoo (69) and Ryoken Kawagishi (71).

Three strokes off the lead are a group of four players including American Brian Watts, runner-up to Mark O'Meara at this year's Open championship, who shot 67 and South African star Ernie Els (70).