Paul McGinley missed another cut as Ernie Els produced a classy six-under-par 65 for a new course record and charged into the joint halfway lead with Scott Strange of Australia at the €2.4 million Singapore Open yesterday.

The South African star tamed the demanding Sentosa Golf Club's par-71 Serapong course with an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for a two-day total of six-under-par 136.

Strange, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was equally heroic as he battled the effects of back spasms en-route to an impressive 69 to share top honours with the "Big Easy".

Argentina's Angel Cabrera was alone in third place on five-under after a round of 68, a shot ahead of Shingo Katayama of Japan (69) and Brad Kennedy of Australia (67).

Defending champion Adam Scott was tied with four other players on three-under following his 69, while Lee Westwood was at level par 142 after also shooting 69. Michael Campbell of New Zealand stumbled to a 75 to scrape through on 147.

The most prominent player to miss the cut of six over par was McGinley, who carded eight bogeys in a round of 77 as he finished 11-over-par 150 after a first round of 73.

Els lamented that he had been unable to "buy a putt" during the opening round but he turned his fortunes around in spectacular fashion with a round that included only 27 putts including a massive 40-footer at the 14th for his first birdie of the day.

The highlight of the day for the 'Big Easy' was his eagle at the fourth, when he put his approach shot into deep rough at the side of the green but punched out with a miraculous chip that rolled directly into the hole.