Graeme McDowell followed his four under par first round with a 67 on Friday to move two shots clear of fellow Northern Ireland player, Gareth Maybin, with Niclas Fasth of Sweden a further two shots back in third place at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.
More importantly, with the US Open champion currently more than €900,000 behind Martin Kaymer of Germany in the Race to Dubai McDowell has seized pole position in the chase for the €500,000 first prize in Sotogrande, with the German struggling this week on four over par, things are looking to get even better for GMAC – in what has already been a sensational season.
McDowell’s round on Friday was not blemish free as there were dropped shots at the fifth and ninth. However, the Portrush man made up for it with six birdies - four of those coming in the space of six holes on the back nine.
“I didn’t play that well on the front nine, it was rather scrappy, but the back nine was good,” said McDowell. “I gave myself birdie chances and positioned the ball well.
“Level par is a good job at Valderrama. I will just keep doing what I'm doing for the next couple of days.
“Martin has not had his best two days, but he is a world class player. I will have to control my own game, and I'm going to do my best; that's all I have to do. At Valderrama you’ve got to stay patient and focused.”
Maybin, seeking his maiden European Tour victory, picked up shots on the third, fifth, 15th and 17th holes to climb into second place, with his only bogey of the tournament so far arriving at the seventh.
“Overall I’m really happy,” he said. “Patience has been my game plan for the last couple of days, and will be for the next two.”Fasth surged up the leader board with a faultless round of 66 - equalling the lowest round of the week so far.
The 38 year old Swede has not had a victory since his triumph at the BMW International Open in 2007, but will enter the weekend in confident mood following a sterling display around Valderrama’s notoriously tricky greens.
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gary Boyd fired rounds of 70 and 69 respectively to share fourth place on two under, while Jean-Baptiste Gonnet claimed four birdies in his first five holes and six in total during a 67 which lifted him into a group of eight players at one under.
But for Kaymer it was another disappointing day as he needs to win or share second place - with no more than one other player - if he, rather than the absent Lee Westwood, is to succeed Tiger Woods as World Number One on Monday.
Kaymer posted two birdies and two bogeys on his front nine, but dropped further shots at the 14th, 16th and 18th to fall 11 shots behind McDowell.
Overnight leader Pablo Larrazabal of Spain also found things tough and slipped back to one over courtesy of a 77.
Damien McGrane finished with a one under par 73 in round two to remain one under par overall.
Michael Hoey was level par after following a 72 and is joined by Darren Clarke, who signed for a round of 70.
Shane Lowry carded a one under par round on Friday to improve to a 2 over par total.
Peter Lawrie though was 2 over par and goes into the weekend on a four over par total and well out of the running his troubles on Thursday.
Paul McGinley missed the cut after signing for a 75 – with double bogeys on holes 10 and 18 the major setback – to finish 7 over par.
