Birthday boy Bjorn takes the lead

Thomas Bjorn has celebrated his 34th birthday in style by taking the lead in the second round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open.

Bjorn carded a superb 64 for a 12-under-par halfway total at Saujana, one shot clear of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson who also recorded a 64.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington got himself back in contention after a poor finish to his opening round yesterday, the world number eight firing a 66 to finish seven under alongside compatriot Gary Murphy.

Overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee was among the later starters, the defending champion picking up a birdie on the second to improve to nine under.

Starting on the 10th, Bjorn fired four birdies in an outward half of 33 and added five more to storm home in 31.

“It’s a nice way to spend your birthday,” admitted Bjorn, who famously blew a two-shot lead with three holes to play in the 2003 Open at Royal St George’s and has not won a European Tour event since 2002.

“The course is not playing too tough, but 64 is a good round in the conditions. It’s tough to focus – the sweat is running off you.

“I’m really pleased, because when I hit balls on the range on Tuesday and Wednesday it was not what I was looking for. But I found a few keys, and it’s working out well.”

Stenson also prospered in the marginally cooler conditions this morning, the 28-year-old recovering from a bogey on his opening hole to card seven birdies and an eagle.

“Today was nothing compared to yesterday,” said Stenson, who won the inaugural Heritage tournament at Woburn last season.

“After nine holes of the first round, I thought I was not going to get round. But it felt a little cooler.”

The oppressive heat and humidity sparked off a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon which derailed Harrington’s challenge. Four under par after 13 holes when the storm hit, Harrington dropped three shots in his last four hours when play resumed.

“Obviously I’m going to need another couple of those over the weekend,” he said after his flawless 66.

“I needed to shoot a good score today, so I’m happy about that. But I played a lot better yesterday than today. I had so many more chances yesterday and could not convert, and had nowhere near as many chances today but was taking them.”