Edfors ahead in Qatar

Three-time European Tour winner Johan Edfors stormed to the top of the Qatar Masters leaderboard to open up a two-stroke halfway lead over Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel.

The big-hitting Dubai-based Swede carded a six-under-par 66, which included a scintillating run of six birdies in seven holes around the turn.

His only blemish came at the 203-yard 13th, which is playing as one of the toughest holes on the course with only five birdies recorded during the second round.

Edfors won three times in 2006 and finished 10th on the Order of Merit but could manage only 67th last season, with his best result coming in his final event of the year with a tie for fifth in October’s Mallorca Classic.

“I took two months off last year and had a good think about what I did,” the 32-year-old said.

“I wasn’t happy with the way I was playing and how I was feeling on the course. I wasn’t enjoying myself as much as I usually do and I changed some aspects, especially during tournament week, so now I think I’m getting back into the shape I want to be.”

Joint overnight leader Westwood recorded a solid second-round 70 to move to seven under alongside South Africa’s Schwartzel, who signed for a bogey-free 67 at a chilly Doha Golf Club.

In-form Westwood has been unhappy with the way he has started recent tournaments after failing to overturn large final-round deficits, finishing second in his last two events.

But this time the Worksop ace is in prime position to challenge over the weekend after bouncing back from an early bogey with three birdies.

“I played okay, I just couldn’t get momentum. I had chances on the first two holes and dropped one at five, which was a bit disappointing,” said Westwood.

“I am still in a fine position for the weekend and if nothing goes for you, you can’t be disappointed. Seventy is a good score in these conditions.

“There are not many people shooting that and it’s there or thereabouts, two behind going into the weekend is a lot better than last week.”

A resurgent David Howell, who admitted his second-round 68 was slightly fortunate, is a further shot adrift alongside Ross McGowan, Sweden’s Alexander Noren and co-overnight leader Anton Haig.

Colin Montgomerie, upbeat following his bogey-free 68, sits at five under alongside Nick Dougherty, who carded a 67, with Oliver Wilson, Anthony Wall and former champion Andrew Coltart a further shot back.

Coltart is only playing this week due to his victory at the inaugural 1998 Qatar Masters after failing to retain his card last November.

After starting the day at level par, Paul Casey missed his second consecutive cut after a 74.

Montgomerie, however, is determined to compete with the new breed of young players and is confident he can regain his place in the world’s top 50.

After targeting “three top-10s or a couple of top fives” from this year’s three-event desert swing, Montgomerie slipped a further four places to 65th on the world rankings after finishing 23rd in Abu Dhabi last week.

He is well aware a return to the world’s top 50 by the start of April is necessary to ensure a place at the Masters at Augusta later that month.

“I’m way down the world rankings and I’ve got to improve and the only way of doing it is competing with these guys. If I’m not I might as well pack it in,” he said.

“I’ve got to come out here and do what I do best and that’s try and score well and today was good. I had no bogeys and 68 was a good score. If I don’t make a bogey over the weekend I have a great chance of winning.”

Montgomerie is the oldest player inside the top 10 in Qatar by 10 years from Ryder Cup colleague Westwood and his place at Valhalla later this year is under threat.

The eight-time Order of Merit winner has already admitted Nick Faldo’s team could contain as many as six rookies with Justin Rose, Nick Dougherty and last week’s winner Martin Kaymer all set to be in contention.

“We have got a strong top end which we had last week and we have this week and they are all performing well and all have to be beaten. They are not beating themselves any more,” Montgomerie added.

“They are stronger mentally, physically and hit the ball further and better than they did before. They are also not frightened of winning any more.

“I found when I first came out here in the 90s there were a lot of people who got into a position and were frightened to win.

“There are a lot of young guys but I’m doing okay to compete at my age, but it’s more of a struggle than ever.”