David Howell made a return to form at the Qatar Masters this morning as the Ryder Cup winner "rode his luck" to card a second round four-under-par 68 to move within one stroke of clubhouse leader Charl Schwartzel.
South Africa's Schwartzel sits at the top of the leaderboard at seven-under-par after carding a second round 67 to open up the advantage over Howell and Sweden's Alexander Noren, who recorded a second consecutive three-under 69 in tough blustery conditions at the Doha Golf Club.
Nick Dougherty, who finished second to Adam Scott in 2002, leapt up the leaderboard with a five-under-par 67 and joins an upbeat Colin Montgomerie, who was delighted with his bogey-free 68, a further shot adrift.
Howell last tasted victory 20 months ago at the BMW Championship at Wentworth in May 2006 and last year finished 142nd on the Order of Merit after ending the previous three years inside the top-10.
But the 32-year-old, who began the day at two-under following a solid opening round 70, shot up the leaderboard despite admitting he is still someway short of his best.
"I have got the most out of both days. The rough is not up this week and you can get lucky in the sand. I haven't driven it well for the last two days but the rest of my game has been in pretty decent shape, there have been a few lose ones of the tee so I am delighted to get to six-under," said Howell, who signed for two bogeys against six birdies.
Starting on the back nine, Howell was level par through six holes after cancelling out a first hole birdie with a bogey five at the 14th.
Howell returned to one-under after picking up a shot at the driveable par four 16th despite hitting his second shot into the greenside rocks to reach the turn in 35.
He then reeled off back-to-back birdies from the third and would have been in a tie for the clubhouse lead after making a storming finish with another brace of birdies, but for a dropping bogey number two at the par four fifth.
"My course management was very good and I made the best of every situation and I putted very well," he added. "I am delighted to make the cut and delighted to be able to challenge over the weekend."
Graeme McDowell leads the Irish challenge on three under par after a second round 71. Rory McIlroy is close on his compatriots heels after also carding a 71 to sit one shot further back.
Damien McGrane also fired a 71 and sits at one under while Peter Lawrie is one over after a second round 72. Paul McGinley fired a two under 70 to improve to three over but he faces a stiff task to make the cut. Gary Murphy is three over for the tournament, and two under midway through his round.
