Els takes command in Shanghai
Ernie Els today carded a superb second-round 62 to take command of the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai.
Els fired eight birdies and an eagle at Tomson Golf Club for a 15-under-par halfway total and four-shot lead over the field.
New Zealand’s Eddie Lee, one of seven players sharing the lead after the first round, added a 66 to his opening 67 to finish 11 under, with England’s Simon Wakefield and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn three shots further back.
Starting from the 10th, Els opened with three pars before a birdie from three feet on the 13th sparked a run of eight birdies in 11 holes.
The world number three then holed from 12ft on the 15th, 30ft on the 16th and splashed out of a greenside bunker to six feet on the 18th to be out in 32.
Four more birdies followed in his next five holes – the highlight coming with a 40ft putt on the first – before a four iron to the par-five ninth finished within inches of the hole to set up the easiest of eagles.
Although two shots better than the previous course record, the round will not count officially due to the preferred lies in operation this week.
“I felt my game was coming around and I was bit more confident,” said Els, who has been working on changes to his posture since a disappointing performance at the US Masters earlier this month.
“From where I was in the first round last week, where I was still looking for a swing and the changes were feeling very uncomfortable, I’ve done a total about-turn. I’m a little surprised it has come around this quickly but I’m very happy.”
Only the forecast thunderstorms on Saturday now look capable of preventing Els from claiming his third European Tour title of the season following his back-to-back victories in Dubai and Qatar in March.
“You expect to win but you know you have a lot of work to do,” added Els. “I’m in a very good situation right now but I have to go out and play aggressive golf.”
Of the afternoon starters, Colin Montgomerie eagled the second but bogeyed the next to stand level par, 15 shots off the lead, while Nick Faldo dropped a shot at the same hole to fall back to one over.
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