Advantage Edoardo in Bahrain

Edoardo Molinari birdied his first six holes to grab the second round lead away from his brother Francesco at the Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain today.

Resuming only joint 14th after an opening four-under-par 68, the older of the Ryder Cup Italians raced to 10-under, two ahead of Francesco and overnight pacesetter Johan Edfors.

The European Tour record is eight birdies in a row, but 29-year-old Edoardo parred the short 16th to end his run.

Francesco, meanwhile, produced matching birdies on the 11th and 12th to keep alive the possibility of another shoot-out between the pair. He was a playing partner on the last when his brother won both the Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Championship last season.

Edfors, who set the course record with his 64, was among the day's later starters, but Padraig Harrington improved from two under to four under by picking up strokes at the 13th and 17th.

Ian Poulter, hugely critical of the greens on the Colin Montgomerie course after a level par 72, also had two birdies in his first eight holes, but a bogey six at the 14th meant he was still in danger of a second successive missed cut at one-under.

On his Twitter site Poulter told the absent Lee Westwood that he should have joined him and Rory McIlroy in having a week off.

"School boy error playing," he wrote. "Apparently the Architect wanted to make a statement with the greens, he did that alright they are &%$#.

"Played great today 35 putts, missed 1 green, Simply the WORST greens I have ever seen & I'm not joking. They are embarrassing."