DURBAN: South African Louis Oosthuizen birdied the final hole to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Volvo Golf Champions tournament at Durban Country Club yesterday.
The former British Open champion birdied eight holes — five on the front nine and three on the journey back — and did not drop a shot for a 64 and a halfway 132 total.
Oosthuizen is one stroke ahead of Scott Jamieson and first round leader Thongchai Jaidee. The Scot also returned a 64 over the 6,111-meter course while the Thai had a 68, three shots more than he took Thursday.
There is a six-shot gap between the leader and those tied for fourth place on 139 — Dane Thomas Bjorn, Julien Quesne of France, Scot Paul Lawrie, Danny Willett of England, Indian Jeev Milkha Singh and Shane Lowry of Ireland.
Reigning British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Francesco Molinari of Italy are a stroke further back in the 33-man field.
Defending champion Branden Grace of South Africa, winner of five European Tour events last season, atoned for a disappointing opening 75 with a 67 that placed him on 142, nine strokes behind Oosthuizen.
The Volvo Golf Champions is restricted to 2012 European Tour winners and winners of more than 10 career titles on the circuit, and there is no halfway cut because of the small field.
Qataris snub Woods
Tiger Woods may guarantee packed galleries but even the Qataris cannot afford the former world No. 1’s appearance fee for the only European Tour event in the Gulf state.
The American’s involvement at the Jan. 23-26 Qatar Masters would cost a whopping $3 million, said Qatar Golf Association president Hassan al Nuaimi.
“Tiger Woods demands $3 million just for an appearance, if he were to compete — which is not worth paying for a tournament of $2.5 million prize money,” he told the Doha News.
Instead, 14-times major winner Woods begins his season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship next week before returning home to compete in the US PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open.
Woods finished tied third in Abu Dhabi last year and has never played in Qatar.
Paul Lawrie will defend his title at the Qatar event where the field includes world No. 4 Justin Rose of Britain and American world No. 9 Jason Dufner.
Louis Oosthuizen birdies final hole to snatch lead
