GOLF QATAR MASTERS: BRETT RUMFORD goes into the weekend with a one-shot advantage at the Qatar Masters in Doha, but a host of big names are queuing up to challenge him.
European number one Lee Westwood and former caddie Oliver Wilson are both well placed, with just a two-shot deficit, while the Irish trio of Graeme McDowell, Peter Lawrie and Irish Open champion Shane Lowry are on course to finish in the top-10.
Joint overnight leader Wilson, who caddied for then county champion Westwood some 20 years ago, picked up two late birdies in a bogey-free 70 at the Doha Golf Club to join the world number four at seven under par.
Westwood (36), struggled at times to maintain control of his swing, but continued to reap the benefits of a new set of irons to card a satisfying, three-under 69.
Wilson (29), for his part, said: “I haven’t holed anything, but I’m still feeling solid over holing out so I’m definitely getting better and maybe something will click.
“It was getting frustrating, but it was nice to get something out of the round at the end.”
Westwood recalled a moment during his meeting with a young Wilson when he was handed a driver for a reachable 280-yard par four, only for the Worksop golfer to fly the green by 30 yards after initially opting for a three-wood.
“That ended his caddying days,” said Westwood. “But he’s turned out to be a better player than a caddy unfortunately.”
Out in front, Australian Rumford set the midway mark at nine under par 135 after dropping just one shot in carding the best round of a windswept week as a six-under-par 66 helped the Perth native open a one-shot lead over Bradley Dredge.
And world number 360 Rumford hopes that will be the shape of things to come after returning to Europe last season following a disappointing season on the US Tour, after winning the 2007 European Masters.
“My goal is the world ranking points at the moment to get my ranking up higher,” he said. “Looking back on it, I should have gone back to the qualifying school in 2009 and given it another crack.
“The first year over in the States after never playing there was a pretty tough goal to try and maintain a tour card. I thought I would excel, a few players have done that, but it’s very difficult.”
Joint overnight leader Dredge was also left disappointed with a three-under 69 after failing to take full advantage of calm conditions following Thursday’s high winds as the Welshman only made his move up the leaderboard with two birdies over his final three holes.
McDowell shot a flawless, five-under-par 67 with birdies at the second and seventh in a first nine of 33 and three more, at the 10th, 15th and 16th, on the back nine for a halfway total of 140, the same mark as Peter Lawrie, who added a 68 to his opening 72.
Lowry dropped just one shot, at the 13th, in his 70 for 141.
Gareth Maybin is on 145 after a 74 while Michael Hoey is one back on the cut of 146 after a 72.
Damien McGrane missed out by one after a 72.
Robert Karlsson made the best move of the afternoon starters, carding a two-under 70 to progress to six under par alongside Niclas Fasth (68), with Peter Hanson (69) and Africa Open and Joburg Open winner Charl Schwartzel (69) a further shot off the pace.
Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey sit well placed at four-under-par, although new world number 10 Ian Poulter will not be around for the weekend after missing the cut by a single stroke.
