Qatar Masters:Three-time European Tour winner Johan Edfors moved to the top of the Qatar Masters leaderboard with a two-stroke halfway lead over Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel.

The big-hitting Dubai-based Swede carded a six-under-par 66, which included a scintillating run of six birdies in seven holes around the turn. His only blemish came at the 203-yard 13th, which is playing as one of the toughest holes on the course with only five birdies recorded during the second round.

Graeme McDowell birdied the eighth and 17th in a steady 71 for a three-under-par total of 141, while Rory McIlroy is a shot back on 142 after firing three birdies in the last four holes for a second successive 71.

Damien McGrane is on 143 after a 71 and Peter Lawrie also made the weekend after a 72 left him on the cut mark of 145.

Paul McGinley and Gary Murphy both missed the cut despite shooting 71s for a 148 total.

Edfors won three times in 2006 and finished 10th on the Order of Merit but could manage only 67th last season, with his best result coming in his final event of the year with a tie for fifth in October's Mallorca Classic.

"I took two months off last year and had a good think about what I did," the 32-year-old said. ... "I wasn't happy with the way I was playing and how I was feeling on the course. I wasn't enjoying myself as much as I usually do and I changed some aspects, especially during tournament week, so now I think I'm getting back into the shape I want to be."

Joint overnight leader Westwood recorded a solid second-round 70 to move to seven under alongside South Africa's Schwartzel, who signed for a bogey-free 67 at a chilly Doha Golf Club.

In-form Westwood has been unhappy with the way he has started recent tournaments after failing to overturn large final-round deficits, finishing second in his last two events.

But this time he is in prime position to challenge over the weekend after bouncing back from an early bogey with three birdies.

"I am still in a fine position for the weekend and if nothing goes for you, you can't be disappointed. Seventy is a good score in these conditions," said Westwood.

A resurgent David Howell, who admitted his second-round 68 was slightly fortunate, is a further shot adrift alongside Ross McGowan, Sweden's Alexander Noren and co-overnight leader Anton Haig.

Colin Montgomerie, upbeat following his bogey-free 68, sits at five under alongside Nick Dougherty, who carded a 67, with Oliver Wilson, Anthony Wall and former champion Andrew Coltart a further shot back.

Coltart is only playing this week due to his victory at the inaugural 1998 Qatar Masters after failing to retain his card last November.

After starting the day at level par, Paul Casey missed his second consecutive cut after a 74.