GOLF:WHILE THE real drama happened away from the course with the early disqualification of Pádraig Harrington, defending champion Martin Kaymer stamped his authority on the Abu Dhabi Championship yesterday afternoon.
Despite wind and rain Kaymer took over at the top from South African Charl Schwartzel by adding a superb 65 to his opening 67 – and now looks poised to replace Tiger Woods as world number two. He needs only a top-seven finish for that.
Kaymer expressed sympathy for the way Harrington’s challenge ended. “It’s a very unfortunate thing, obviously,” he said. “But that’s how it is. The way he played I think he would have had a chance to win, so he’s a little unlucky there.”
Schwartzel shot 71, while the 70 of US Open champion Graeme McDowell left him in third spot, four behind. Rory McIlroy and Gareth Maybin had 67s for six under, and last year’s Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, in a sudden return to form, shot 69 for five under.
US Masters champion Phil Mickelson (70) is three under at half-way, and world number one Lee Westwood, double-bogeying the 17th in a 75, survived the cut with nothing to spare at level par.
Damien McGrane finished on the same mark.
For the second day the whole field could not get round before darkness, but the cut was certain to be level par – and that meant Westwood and McGrane made it in. Ian Poulter and British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen will have an unscheduled weekend off. They will be joined by Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley (both two over), Michael Hoey (seven over) and Peter Lawrie.
