Hot finish puts Els one clear as Clarke hangs in

ERNIE ELS, who won the South African Open with a hat trick of closing birdies last Sunday, came up with another stunning finish to a round in Singapore yesterday to take the halfway lead in the Pounds 600,000 Johnnie Walker Classic at the Tanah Merah course.

The former US Open champion and current world match play champion hit a six iron to two feet on the 194 yard eighth his 17th and then an even better 240 yard three iron to 18 inches on the long ninth for an eagle three.

With a 10 under par halfway total of 134, Els is one in front of Olle Karlsson, two ahead of Paul Eales from England and three clear of a group including Darren Clarke, defending champion Fred Couples, Ian Woosnam and Dunhill Cup winning Scot Andrew Coltart.

Clarke's play owed much to his short game and he attributed this to the tuition he received from Manuel Pinero earlier this month. Clarke had a birdie early yesterday morning when he resumed his curtailed first round, which was cut short because of a two hour stoppage for a rain storm on Thursday.

Picking up one shot in his three remaining holes provided him with a five under par 67 first round. He followed up with a 70 and, like his earlier birdie with a seven iron to 10 feet, his success came largely from the short game preached by Pinero.

Clarke said "Seeing Manuel at Valderrama was just part of my preparation for this season, because it's becoming a bit frustrating trying to get my second tour victory which I've made my target for the year. I keep getting close to it but that's all." He was third in the Malaysian Open last week.

His other preparation includes working out for half an hour each day in the gym he installed in his home in Portrush. Being fit was a great help yesterday with high humidity at Tanah Merah. "You have to get used to the heat quickly. And being fitter is a great help in these sort of temperatures" said Clarke.

Paul McGinley also stood the heat well yesterday and lies only two behind Clarke on five under after a second round 68 in which he picked up five birdies coming home after dropping a shot on the first through three putting.

Raymond Burns, making his new long handled putter and a new driver do the business, surged back to ensure he made the cut with a 69 to lie two under par, until he came to the turn where he dropped three shots. He double bogeyed the 18th, his ninth, by going into water. He took 40, coming home for a 78 and missed the weekend by four shots on 147.

Els, the world number three, left his playing partner Greg Norman, the world number one, trailing nine behind, although Norman was never likely to be ready for such a duel after almost pulling out with a chest infection on Wednesday.

Norman, who had to birdie the last for a 72 to survive the half way cut with nothing to spare, said "Ernie is definitely the guy to beat the way he is swinging it. Everybody has a weakness, but what his is I don't know."

Els had four weeks off over Christmas and admits he is surprised at how well he has come off the blocks this season.

"So far this week I've not had a single bogey and that's quite strange for me," he said. "I wasn't enjoying my golf at the end of last year, but I had quite a few beers while I was at home and am feeling fresh and confident."

British Open champion John Daly, who was lying joint third with Els after his first day 67, fell six behind with a 73. The American had his only birdie at the 504 yard second, but followed it with, a double bogey six and parred the other 16 holes.

Woosnam was positively bubbly after his 68 and this only two days after he was downcast about the return of back pains. An eagle at the 563 yard 15th, where he struck a drive and three wood to 10 feet, was the highlight of his round and he said "I've got the best rhythm I've had in a number of years."