Cabrera takes charge in Singapore

US Open champion Angel Cabrera fired an eight-under-par 63 to take the lead midway through the second round of the Barclays Singapore Open.

However, playing partner Ernie Els looks likely to miss the cut after carding a five-over 76.

After opening the tournament with a level-par 71, Cabrera caught fire today, shooting an impressive nine birdies to move two shots clear of the field on an eight-under-par 134 after the morning session at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.

American Jin Park was alone in second place on six under after carding a one-under 70, while Lee Westwood was sitting in third place in the clubhouse after carding a bogey-free 67 to move to four under for the tournament.

Charles Howell III bounced back after a disastrous 76 in his opening round, shooting six birdies for a five-under 66 as he improved to level par.

However, it was a bleak morning for world number four Els, who carded eight bogeys in a disappointing round of 76 to drop to a six-over 148, three strokes off the projected cut of three over.

Cabrera broke his driver during an erratic opening round that included four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey. But after having the club repaired overnight, the Argentinian found his form in calm morning conditions on the second day.

Starting on the back nine, the 38-year-old birdied his first two holes of the day before dropping his only stroke of the round after missing the green at the 13th.

After putting his tee shot within 10 feet of the pin at the par-three 17th, Cabrera reeled off seven birdies at the next nine holes to surge to the top of the leaderboard.

“I really hit it well off the tee and made everything that I needed to make and that was the difference,” said the world number 17, whose birdie run included a 25-foot putt at the third.

“I stroked the ball very solidly, especially on the back nine. Not really from long distance, just from makeable distances.

“I hit everything solidly, otherwise I wouldn’t shoot 63. I just missed a couple of drives on the first cut of the rough.”

Westwood also began the second round on level par but the Worksop golfer moved up the leaderboard after making four birdies in a solid, bogey-free second round.

“I played well. I only missed one green and I had a lot of chances from 10 to 15 feet but I struggled to read the greens,” said the 31-year-old.

“Four under is pretty good after two rounds and I’m looking forward to the next couple of days.

“I’ve had six top-10s in the last seven events so that would suggest that I’m in decent form.”

Els though had little to smile about after struggling in the heat at Sentosa. The South African, who lost in a play-off to Adam Scott last year, birdied his first hole of the round but bogeys at two of the next three holes dropped him to two over for the tournament.

He birdied twice on his back nine but six bogeys put paid to his hopes of making the weekend.

“It’s not the way I wanted to play obviously. I felt good before the round started. I actually birdied my first hole but then after that, I just couldn’t get it together,” he said.

“All in all, it was quite disappointing. I was hoping for better things this week but that’s golf.

“I’m fine. I can’t give you any excuses. I wish I could but it is what it is. It’s one of my worst rounds of the year and unfortunately it had to be in Singapore. It’s one of those things.”