Rumford rumbles Qatar field to take halfway lead

Australian Brett Rumford fired a second round six-under par at Doha Golf Club to take the halfway lead at the Qatar Masters. Rumord leads by one from Wales’ Bradley Dredge with Oliver Wilson a further shot back in a tie for third place. Rumford, who carded six birdies in his opening ten holes finished with a 66 for a nine-under par total.

Wilson’s former boss, Lee Westwood is slowly getting to grips with new irons and carded a second round of 69 – Wilson once caddied for Westwood at a tournament. Wilson himself netted two late birdies in his bogey-free round of 70 and joined Westwood for a share of third place.

Dredge, who enjoyed the best of the conditions might feel a little aggrieved he didn’t take full advantage but still carded a three-under 69; two of his birdies came in the final three holes.

Robert Karlsson made the most progress of the second round with a two-under par 70 to take him to six-under par for the tournament and into a tie with Sweden’s Niclas Fasth, with Peter Hanson and dual-winner Charl Schwartzel a further shot behind.

Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey lie poised to strike just behind the leaders at four-under par but Henrik Stenson faces an uphill struggle if he is to challenge for the event, finishing at level-par after a round of 69.

One player who won’t be involved over the weekend is Abu Dhabi runner-up Ian Poulter who carded a level-par second round to miss the cut by one stroke.