McDowell and Scott set pace in Singapore

Graeme McDowell and Adam Scott both made good starts to their second rounds at the Singapore Open to share the lead on nine under par.

McDowell had spoken prior to the tournament of his aim to reduce Martin Kaymer’s lead in the Race to Dubai standings, and the Northern Irishman set about his task in determined fashion.

With yesterday’s first round delayed by four hours due to thunderstorms, McDowell was forced to finish his opening 18 holes this morning and he posted a 65 that featured seven birdies and a bogey over the more difficult Serapong course at Sentosa Golf Club.

The 31-year-old then carried his fine form over to the Tanjon layout, picking up birdies on the first four holes before a bogey on five checked his progress.

Scott, meanwhile, matched McDowell’s 65 and the Australian then reeled off three birdies in a row from the third on the Tanjon course to climb into a share of the lead.

The duo head Rickard Karlberg, the Swede one under through 15 holes of the Serapong course, Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata – three under after 10 – and overnight clubhouse leaders Chris Wood and Kim Bi-o by one stroke. The latter two have not yet started their second rounds.

Four players – Raphael Jacquelin, Keith Horne, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Shigeki Maruyama were at seven under, while last week’s HSBC Champions winner Francesco Molinari was in a group on six under.

Ignacio Garrido, who completed a blistering 62 this morning to lead after the first round, slipped back into a tie for 17th on five under after playing the first 10 holes of the Serapong course in four over par.