Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter led a remarkable charge of the English brigade at the $7.5 million Dubai World Championship presented by DP World at the Jumeirah Golf Estate’s Earth course on Friday as Germany Martin Kaymer took charge of the Race to Dubai.
Irish Open champion Fisher equalled fellow Briton Lee Westwood’s eight-under par course record 64 set last year to finish on 135 by firing eight birdies on a low scoring day.
Last week’s Hong Kong Open winner Poulter carded a 66 to join compatriot Fisher on nine-under.
However, the two-way tussle to become Europe’s number one seems to have fizzled out with Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer opening an eight-shot advantage over Graeme McDowell.
German Kaymer shot a 70 for a seven-under total of 137 while Irishman McDowell slumped to a 73 for 145.
Kaymer said he did not hit the ball as well as Thursday’s opening round.
“I didn’t really hit a lot of greens. I struggled a little bit to save pars. I made a 3 putt on the par 3, On the back nine, I didn’t really give myself a lot of chances for birdies.
"Two under par is an okay score and still two behind. Would have been nice to pick up one or two more shots going into Saturday, but it's only half time now so we still have 36 holes to go," said the man who is set to become Europe's number one player on Sunday.
Defending champion Westwood was one stroke adrift in third place after a 67 while fellow Briton Paul Casey (67) also joined the birdie bonanza to take joint fourth spot on 137 with Kaymer and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (69).
Fisher feels more relaxed this time unlike last year when he was in contention for the Race to Dubai title and has brought his extended family over.
“It’s nice to get them out from the cold of England,” said Fisher who is enjoying the week with his wife and daughter, and almost the entire family of his wife’s.
“I played pretty flawless golf. Drove the ball lovely and didn’t miss many fairways and greens. Just feel a lot more comfortable this year on the greens. I feel like I’m reading them a lot better and I’ve got my line and pace very well,” he said.
“It’s funny, the course kind of suits me because it’s long. Just last year, I really struggled on it. It’s a real tough, demanding golf course. There are a lot of approach shots you play uphill, and you can’t see three quarters of the pins,” said Fisher after his bogey free round.
Poulter had a lot of fun playing with Westwood opening with four consecutive birdies and is bogey-free after the first 36 holes here.
“Very, very pleased with the round,” Poulter said.
“Obviously, carrying some form from last week, driving the ball in the fairway an awful lot. I think I missed one fairway today by a couple of inches.
“So, I’m giving myself plenty of chances and I’m not really making any mistakes and that’s obviously key to shooting a decent score.”
Westwood also joined the birdie fest by opening with three birdies but bogeyed a couple of holes thereafter.
“I felt a bit rusty. I made a couple of mistakes,” said Westwood who was excited by the leaderboard.
“It is fantastic and the weekend looks exciting. Only Graeme (McDowell) was missing,” he said.
He also praised his playing partner and joint leader Poulter.
“It was lot of fun playing with him. He has worked hard on his game and is turning out to be a good player,” said the world’s top ranked player.
Casey took a liking to the Earth course after firing five birdies. “It’s my first time here but I have played well in the first two rounds. It’s a course where you have to fire at the flag. My game suits it,” he said.
McDowell needed “a big weekend” after a level par opening 72 but the Northern Irishman now needs a huge one after adding only a 73.
Only a top three finish will give McDowell a chance of overtaking Martin Kaymer in the last week of the year-long race, but he hasn’t ruled himself out of making a comeback.
“I was just very quick to lose patience with myself,” said McDowell, who after climbing from 25th to sixth spot with three birdies in the first seven holes bogeyed four of the next seven.
“There are enough good shots in there to give myself a chance, but I'm getting frustrated very quickly.”
The US Open Championship winner was reminded that at The Celtic Manor Wales Open in June he only just made the cut, then shot 64-63 to win by three.
But he admits the Earth Course, where he came only 30th last year, frustrates “the life out of me” and it does not look good.
Leading second round scores on Friday (par 72):
135 - Ross Fisher (ENG) 71-64, Ian Poulter (ENG) 69-66
136 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 69-67
137 - Paul Casey (ENG) 70-67, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 68-69, Martin Kaymer (GER) 67-70
138 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 71-67
139 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 73-66, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 72-67, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 70-79, Noh Seung-Yul (KOR) 66-73
140 - YE Yang (KOR) 71-69, Rafael Jacquelin (FRA) 70-70, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 69-71, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 69-71, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 65-75
141 - Luke Donald (ENG) 74-67, Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 71-70, Brett Rumford (AUS) 71-70,
142 - Matteo Manassero (ITA) 74-68, Richie Ramsay (SCO) 73-69, Darren Clarke (NIR) 71-71, Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 71-71, Thomas Aiken (RSA) 70-72
143 - Peter Lawrie (IRL) 76-67, Ernie Els (RSA) 73-70, Chris Wood (ENG) 73-70, Simon Dyson (ENG) 72-71, Marcus Fraser (AUT) 72-71, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71-72, David Horsey (ENG) 70-73, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 69-74,
144 - John Parry (ENG) 75-69, Fredrik Andersson Hed (SWE) 75-69, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 74-70, Gareth Maybin (NIR) 73-71, Joost Luiten (NED) 72-72, Anders Hansen (DEN) 74-70, Soren Hansen (DEN) 74-70, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 73-71, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 69-75