SHANGHAI, 30 April 2005 — World No. 3 Ernie Els fired a sizzling 10-under-par 62 to open a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Asian Open yesterday.
The South African carded eight birdies and closed with a brilliant eagle for a halfway total of 15-under 129 following his lowest round of the year.
New Zealand’s Eddie Lee, who missed the cut in all 10 tournaments he has played this year, was his closest challenger on 11-under after shooting a 66.
France’s Raphael Jacquelin produced his second successive 67 to finish a further shot back.
Els is working on minor adjustments to his game after finishing a career-worst 47th at the US Masters but he looked back to his best in steamy Shanghai.
“I felt comfortable with my swing and just wanted to keep going,” said the three-times major winner, who tied for sixth at last week’s Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing.
“From where I was last week, mentally and technically, I’ve made a total about-turn. I’m a little surprised it came this quickly but I’m happy.”
Els shared a seven-way tie for the lead after Thursday’s first round but he holed several long putts on Friday to open a gap on his rivals at Tomson Golf Club.
The highlight, however, was an eagle on the ninth where Els drilled a four-iron from the rough to within a whisker of the hole.
“The moment I hit it I was down on my knees watching it. It felt good all the way,” said Els, who has won in Dubai and Qatar this year. “When you hit shots like that it’s going to get you excited.”
Lee’s 11-under total was all the more remarkable after failing to make the cut in seven Asian Tour events and three on the Australasian Tour this year.
Danish Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn had a 65 in hot and humid conditions early in the day for a share of fourth place on eight under. Britain’s Simon Wakefield shot 69 to join Bjorn on 136 with Frenchmen Jean Van de Velde and Jean-Francois Lucquin, who had 69 and 66 respectively despite sporadic afternoon rain showers.
Six-times major winner Nick Faldo carded a 70 to go two-under, one ahead of Ryder Cup players Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez.
The $1.5 million tournament is jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
DiMarco Back on Top After Masters Disappointment
Chris DiMarco fired a flawless seven-under 65 to share the first round lead with India’s Arjun Atwal at the $5.5 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Thursday, having put the disappointment of the US Masters behind him. Back in action for the first time since his heartbreaking playoff loss to Tiger Woods at Augusta two weeks ago, a determined DiMarco was quickly back in top form carding five birdies and an eagle on the par-five seventh at the TPC of Louisiana.
“This course reminds me a little bit of Augusta,” said DiMarco. “My goal now is when I’m ready I’m going to hit it. I’m not hitting it until I’m ready to go.”
Atwal was nearly as tidy mixing eight birdies with a single bogey to join DiMarco top the leaderboard two strokes clear of Americans Tom Pernice Jr and J.J. Henry, South Africa’s Tim Clark and defending champion Vijay Singh all on five-under 67.
“It was a tough day,” said Atwal, who birdie six of his final nine holes. “I know the score seems pretty low but we grinded it out there, it was not easy by any means. The course was not playing easy, I’m just glad today is over and hope tomorrow doesn’t play as tough as this. This is the first time I’ve ever gotten a sponsor’s invite to a PGA Tour event and glad I did.” Riding the momentum from last week’s successful title defense at the Houston Open, Singh got his round off to a rollercoaster start mixing three birdies with three bogeys to sit at even par after 10 holes.
But soon after the turn the world No. 2 mounted a charge with four birdies and an eagle over the next seven holes to go six-under. The Fijian, looking to become the first player to successfully defend back-to-back titles since Johnny Miller in 1974 and 1975, had a chance to join DiMarco top the leaderboard but bogeyed his last to fall two shots back.
