News Digest: Padraig Harrington fired a second round 70 and Darren Clarke a 73 to claim a share of second place in the Target World Championship at Sherwood Thousand Oaks, California, but still trailed the leader Michael Campbell by three shots at the halfway mark.
The reigning US Open champion added a 72 to his opening 63 for a commanding lead over Harrington and Clarke.
Kenny Perry (70) and Fred Couples (68) are a shot back on five under par.
DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP: Ernie Els finally found his touch to shoot a five-under-par 67 and move to within three shots of the lead after the second round of the Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club.
South African compatriot and first-round leader Michiel Bothma added a 71 to his opening 64 to enjoy a one-shot lead over Titch Moore, Louis Oosthuizen and England's Phillip Archer.
Els, in the second tournament of his comeback from knee surgery, shot a 71 in a rusty first round, and he took three more holes to find momentum yesterday.
Starting his second round from the 10th tee, he birdied the 13th, 14th and 15th holes, and he went on to pick up two more strokes to leave himself with a solid platform from which to launch his campaign for a third title.
Ireland's Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane are five shots back on 140. Murphy fired a second round of 69, McGrane shot 70, while Stephen Browne is on 146 after a second 73.
AUSTRALIAN MASTERS: Irish amateur champion, Rory McIlroy, comfortably made the cut in the Australian Masters in at Huntingdale GC, Melbourne, when a second round of 70 left him on 144. But that was still 14 shots behind Nick O'Hern, who fired a six-under-par 66 to extend his lead to five shots.
O'Hern, who shot a course record 64 on Thursday, made six birdies in a flawless round to move to 14-under ahead of fellow Australian Robert Allenby (68) and Bubba Watson of the United States, who were tied for second at nine under on 135.
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Sub-par golf by all three Irish players in yesterday's third round of the PGA of Europe Team Championship at Malaga has hoisted Ireland back into joint second spot going into the final 18 holes today.
Ireland share second place with Scotland, just one stroke behind leaders France, with holders England a further three shots behind in fourth place. For the second day running, the overnight leaders were penalised for including ineligible players.
Brendan McGovern was again in form as he posted a four-under-par 69, getting off to a great start with a pair of birdie twos at the second and fourth holes. From sand he made another birdie at the seventh, and also clipped shots off par at the 13th and 18th.
Lisburn's Stephen Hamill and Royal County Down's Simon Thornton carded 72 and 71 respectively.
