GOLF: Adam Scott outshone playing partner Colin Montgomerie to forge a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Qatar Masters yesterday. To top off a flawless display, Scott holed his second shot from 200 yards for an eagle on the 15th hole at Doha Golf Club.

The 21-year-old Australian carded a 66 for an 11-under-par total of 133 and looks like being the man to beat in the battle for the £175,000 first prize.

Scott had already carded three birdies and was tied for the lead when his drive on the 15th found the first cut of rough on the 466-yard par four. That left him a daunting 200-yard approach over water - but what could easily have become a bogey five turned into an eagle two as his four-iron approach landed 25 feet short of the flag and rolled straight in.

"Funnily enough I was saying to my caddie just the other day that it's been five years since I've holed a full iron shot like that, so I was due one I guess, and the 15th is probably the most difficult hole on the course," said Scott.

"Apart from that I played beautifully on the front nine. The back nine wasn't so good, but I hung in there and scrambled well.

"I'm delighted to be leading. I played really well in Dubai last week but struggled on the greens. I've spent a lot of time working on my putting since then, and it is starting to feel a lot more comfortable."

Scott, who famously shares both a coach, Butch Harmon, and a similar swing with Tiger Woods, also birdied the 17th from 15 feet for a three-shot lead over Spain's Jose Manuel Lara, Denmark's Anders Hansen and first-round joint-leader Klas Eriksson of Sweden.

The 2001 Alfred Dunhill Championship winner enjoyed a four-shot cushion over playing partner Montgomerie, as a three-shot swing took place on the 15th as Montgomerie made a bogey five.

Montgomerie was not too down-heartened at his four-shot deficit, however, after making the cut for the first time this season.

"It was unfortunate that Andrew Oldcorn had to go home for personal reasons which meant it was slow today, playing with just Adam," said the seven-time European number one.

Best of the Irish was veteran Des Smyth, who fired a second round 70 to lie in joint 18th spot on five under. Pre-tournament favourite Darren Clarke was one shot further back after two birdies in his final four holes gave him consecutive rounds of 70.

But Michael Hoey's 71 left him one shot outside the cut, and Ronan Rafferty fired a second 73 to also miss out.