Lee Westwood is back on course to make a successful defence of the Andalucian Open after a 66 that threatened to be much, much better at Aloha today.

Two behind and joint sixth at halfway, the former European number one opened with five birdies and on seven under with eight holes to play had a real chance to beat his own course record of 64.

Three-putting the next for bogey and then the long 16th for par ended that possibility, but Westwood was content enough to be 12 under par with a round to go and one ahead.

Joint second now are his former Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Levet and English pair David Lynn and Oliver Fisher, the 19-year-old who three years ago was the youngest ever player in the Walker Cup.

With his next tournament The Masters, Westwood was delighted with both his play and his late decision to compete in Spain this week rather than America next week.

"Conditions in Houston are likely to be more like Augusta, but one time I played there it dragged on and on because of the weather — and I didn't want that," he explained.

"I'm going to play a round under the pressure of trying to win tomorrow, and that's what I wanted. The decision has gone 100 per cent."

Westwood, first-round leader after a 65, ended his second-round 73 by three-putting from six feet, but added: "By the time I had signed my card, I had forgotten about it.

"Seven under for the first 10 today was pretty good stuff. I had good ball control, considering the gusty wind, and didn't hit any destructive shots."

If he stays out in front it will be the fourth time in his professional career that he has retained a title.

Fisher was paired with Westwood and, given that this is the first time he has been in real contention for victory since turning professional, he left the Ryder Cup star suitably impressed with a bogey-free 67.

The talented teenager finished with a 35-foot birdie putt, and Westwood said: "He looks a nice player. I don't like talking up young players, because it puts too much pressure on then.

"I haven't done it with Rory [18-year-old stablemate Rory McIlroy] and I won't with Ollie. He's still a boy, but he should do all right."

Fisher said: "Lee's the best player here and is so relaxed. His start was something — but we both played really well and spurred each other on, I guess. I have a chance now and I'll just go out and try and do the same things. Winning this season was definitely a goal."

Lynn birdied the last two and has hopes of achieving only his second win in more than 250 Tour starts — while Levet is also seeking his first victory for four years.

It would complete a superb comeback from an attack of vertigo so bad two years ago that the 39-year-old from Paris stopped playing for several months and feared he might never return.

Welshman Bradley Dredge, needing to win for a chance of climbing into the world's top 50 just in time to claim a return trip to The Masters, needs a miracle after a 71 left him on seven under and joint 11th.

"It's possible but not probable, especially with Lee up there," said Dredge, who had four birdies but also a double bogey on the 12th and then a closing bogey.

English amateur champion Danny Willett, who was in second place on his Tour debut after an opening 65, had his third eagle of the week on the fifth — but with a seven on the 16th, he managed to add only a 72 to his second-day 75 and
is three under.