Jinxed McGinley just off the pace

GOLF: What has already been an eventful week for Paul McGinley could yet end with him winning the Qatar Masters in Doha.

On Monday the Ryder Cup match-winning hero was diagnosed as suffering from pneumonia.

On Wednesday the 100-degree heat forced him to pull out of the eve-of-tournament pro-am after nine holes.

Thursday saw him stay in bed all day after a sandstorm meant only three and a half hours' play was possible and he was not required even to tee off.

Yesterday started with him cutting his right thumb opening a jar of strawberry jam.

"It wasn't a bad cut, but you would not believe how much blood there was," he said.

Yet after all this drama, McGinley went out and played 31 holes in five under par and finds himself only a stroke behind leaders David Howell and Jean-Francois Remesy.

As the tournament tries to make up for the lost time, Howell - whose lone European tour win came in nearby Dubai four years ago - was one of only five players to complete their second rounds before nightfall.

The 27-year-old from Swindon's reward for finishing is an extra four hours in bed today, while Remesy and McGinley - joint third with another Frenchman, Gregory Havret - teed off again at 6.30 a.m. thismorning.

"Luckily the pneumonia was only a mild case and after giving me some anti-biotics the doctor said I would start to feel stronger each day," said McGinley

McGinley's opening 68, which left him two behind Howell, ended with a three-putt bogey six, but he birdied the hole on his return to it three hours later.

But then came bogeys at the second and third just before play was called off.

Tournament favourite Padraig Harrington was lying joint third after a hat-trick of birdies around the turn in his second round, but then came a double bogey five on the dangerous 224-yard third.

Peter Lawrie will also complete his second round today. Lawrie was one over par after 29 holes, Damien McGrane was at four over after 27 while Graeme McDowell and Stephen Browne were both at six over par.

Gary Murphy will not, however, make the cut. After a disappointing opening 75 Murphy never got going in the sand-interupted second round and slumped to an 80. Graham Spring was four over after the first round.