Nick Faldo may have moved a step closer to his first European Tour win in eight years after day two of the Singapore Masters but he, like the rest of the field, still trails Australian Nick O’Hern who maintained his overnight lead.
Faldo, 44, carded a three-under par 69 to join American Mike Cunning (70) and Korea’s Charlie Wi (67) in a tie for third on seven-under 137 at the halfway stage.
The trio finished two adrift of the easily recognised O’Hern after the left-hander added a 71 to yesterday’s course record 64. Little known American Jim Johnson is sandwiched in second on his own on eight-under following his 67.
All the drama in Faldo’s round was saved for final three holes. The six-time major winner birdied the seventh and ninth, his 16th and 18th, with putts greater than 30 feet at both, but surrendered a bogey at the treacherous par three eighth, which is surrounded almost completely by water.
"I actually played better today than yesterday and had quite a few chances," said Faldo who has already earned top 10 finishes at the Johnnie Walker and Heineken Classics in Australia earlier this year.
O’Hern was not disappointed with his round, which contained two birdies on the front nine and one dropped shot at the 16th, but found it more difficult to hole putts today:
"I played pretty similar to yesterday but just didn’t hole the putts I did then," said the 31-year-old who missed three putts from inside six feet for birdies.
Ian Woosnam failed to find form with his new set of irons and added a horrendous 79 to yesterday’s 73, leaving the Welshman on eight-over, nine shots adrift of the cut.
"Every time I hit a bad shot it goes into the water," said the 43-year-old who hit four balls into the water at the Laguna National Golf Club.
If Faldo lifts the title on Sunday it will be his second victory in as many visits to Singapore after he won the Johnnie Walker Classic there in 1993.
additional reporting by PA