European Tour/Qatar Masters:Fortunately for the thirsty Australian expatriates working in the Qatar oil industry, there were copious quantities of the amber nectar available in the beer garden at the Doha Golf Club yesterday to help them celebrate Australia Day.
They also had Australian success to toast, in the shape of Melbourne's Richard Green and Perth's Richard O'Hern, the two left-handers finding a place among the contenders to win the Qatar Masters. The pair could also join them in the hospitality tent, having avoided the fate - teeing off at the crack of dawn - that players further down the field will have to endure today, given that darkness descends here shortly after four o'clock.
At 11-under-par, Green will be last out with the co-leader Retief Goosen and O'Hern, just two shots further back, will be in the second final group.
O'Hern summed it up for the pair of them, saying: "It's nice to have a low score to celebrate Australia Day and Greenie and I will go and celebrate it - I couldn't find any Vegemite to have on my toast this morning."
Ireland's Paul McGinley made an indifferent start to the day as he carded a par 36 on the front nine, but made four birdies coming home to move on to five under - six shots off the lead. Graeme McDowell is a further two shots back after a four-under-par 68 yesterday.
But it was a disappointing day for Darren Clarke as he failed to make the cut. The Irishman was making his first appearance in a European Tour event this year, but looked short of form as he carded a 75 on Thursday and a four-over-par 76 yesterday to finish seven over.
World number eight Goosen is looking to improve his ranking by claiming his first European Tour victory since the South African Open in December 2005.
Helping the twice former US Open champion to attain his goal is Florida-based coach Gregor Jamieson.
"My driving was much better today," Goosen said after the second round. "I hit 11 fairways which was not bad. I am pleased with my decision to begin working with Gregor. I felt I needed something different as I was struggling so much."
Paul Lawrie shot a 67 to move into joint fourth place, three off the lead, to bring back some good memories. Eight years ago Lawrie won in Qatar as a prelude to victory at the Open at Carnoustie and in July he will be back on the Angus coastline.
"I've always said that winning here in Qatar kicked me on to win the Open and this year is special, though being a former champion is no guarantee you are going to play well again," said Lawrie.
But having only won twice since he landed his major - the latest at the Dunhill Links in 2002 - it is only now after a winter change of equipment that Lawrie feels he can return to Carnoustie and be competitive again.
He switched from his previous sponsors Callaway to TaylorMade and finished joint 20th with his new clubs in Abu Dhabi last week, boosting his confidence. "The irons are going very well," said Lawrie. "And I am now driving the ball long so it has to be a good combination."
Guardian Service
Qatar Masters - Second Round Scores
(Brit unless stated, Irish in bold, par 72)
133 - R Goosen (SA) 65 68, R Green (Aus) 68 65
135 - N O'Hern (Aus) 66 69
136 - P Lawrie 69 67, W-C Liang (Chn) 69 67, MA Jimenez (Spa) 66 70, H Stenson (Swe) 68 68
137 - C Phadungsil (Tha) 69 68, E Michaels (USA) 68 69, J Milkha Singh (Ind) 69 68
138 - T Jaidee (Tha) 71 67, E Canonica (Ita) 70 68
139 - A Canete (Arg) 69 70, C DiMarco (USA) 73 66, N Dougherty 68 71, S Appleby (Aus) 70 69, A Canizares (Spa) 70 69, M Mamat (Sin) 69 70, P McGinley 71 68
140 - J Edfors (Swe) 73 67, E Els (Rsa) 69 71, C Rodgers 70 70, P Broadhurst 71 69, S Kapur (Ind) 67 73, M Campbell (Nzl) 70 70, S Dodd 72 68, P O'Malley (Aus) 73 67, A Quiros (Spa) 70 70
141 - S Garcia (Spa) 70 71, R Karlsson (Swe) 70 71, P Meesawat (Tha) 71 70, G Simpson (Aus) 72 69, S Kjeldsen (Den) 72 69, O Fisher 73 68, S Hurd 71 70, A Haig (Rsa) 71 70, G McDowell 73 68, J Pagunsan (Phi) 70 71, T Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 70, A Romero (Arg) 70 71, S Strange (Aus) 70 71, L Westwood 71 70
Selected Others: 142 - A Coltart 69 73, P Price 70 72. 143 - B Dredge 71 72, P Hanson (Swe) 70 73, R Jacquelin (Fra) 73 70. 144 - J Van De Velde (Fra) 75 69, S Hansen (Den) 72 72. Failed to make cut: 145 - Paul Casey 72 73. 148 - Niclas Fasth (Swe) 73 75. 151 - Darren Clarke 75 76.
