Photographer makes Faldo snap

Nick Faldo is in the hunt for a first tour victory for nearly eight years - after delivering a red card to a photographer.

“Not you again,” shouted the six-time major champion as he was put off once too often during his second round of the Omega Hong Kong Open today.

“I know where you are going next. The clubhouse – OK? I have had enough.” And after that dismissal the cameraman did indeed begin the half-mile walk off the course.

The final clash between the two cost Faldo a bogey on the short second, his 11th, as he pulled his tee shot and failed to get up and down.

But the 47-year-old, who spoke on Wednesday about believing he could still win a fourth Open title at St Andrews next July, had his third birdie on the next and after another bogey at the 436-yard sixth birdied the next two.

Faldo, whose last tour success was the 1997 Nissan Open in Los Angeles, finished with a 67 for a four-under aggregate of 136 which put him only three strokes behind early clubhouse leaders Alessandro Tadini and Louis Oosthuizen.

Italian Tadini, second on last season’s “second division” Challenge Tour, had his second successive 66, while South African Oosthuizen shot a sparkling 64.

Ryder Cup trio Padraig Harrington, David Howell and Miguel Angel Jimenez, who ended the first day in joint second place on five under, were among the later starters on day two, but Howell eagled the 551-yard third to make it a three-way tie at the top and the other two improved to six under.

In stark contrast Ian Poulter, the other member of September’s side playing in the event, crashed out on five over par after running up a triple bogey seven on his final hole.

That was the 474-yard ninth, where his second clipped a tree, his third went across the fairway and his fourth had to be played left-handed.

Asked for a comment after his 75 the Volvo Masters champion said: “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Faldo said: “I am pleased with the things I am doing. I have done so many corporate clinics lately in my time off I suddenly thought I should practise what I preach. I have been simplifying the swing for everybody else, so why not do it for yourself?

“It is the appliance of science. I have a swing thought and I am sticking with it. I was up and down with different things when something did not work, but now I am just getting a routine going.”

Jose Maria Olazabal, another former Masters champion who has been struggling lately, got his act together and was sharing the lead until he bogeyed two of the last four holes for a 68 and five-under aggregate.

Overnight leader Adam Groom went three clear when he eagled the 12th, his third. But the Australian then had five bogeys in the next seven holes before rallying to six under with three birdies. It all added up to a level-par 70.

Howell followed his eagle with a birdie to lead by one and then parred his way to the turn. Out in a four-under 30 yesterday, he had covered it in 31 this time and had still to drop a shot.

Harrington had birdies at the fourth and sixth, but a bogey inbetween to stand six under, the same as Jimenez. They were joint fourth.

Howell pitched to within two feet of the flag on the 10th, then two-putted the long, but down-wind 12th.

He stood 10 under, two ahead of Jimenez, who had birdied the 12th and 13th, and three in front of not only Tadini and Oosthuizen, but also Harrington after he lipped out for eagle on the 12th.