Caught between a two-iron and a three-wood for his second shot over the lake, the Welshman tried to hit a high fade with the three-wood, but instead hit an even higher hook.

The ball landed on the roof of the 50-foot high hospitality tent beside the green. It might easily have bounced out of bounds off that, but instead came back towards the water and stopped in the rough just short of it.

From there Woosnam, beaten in a play-off by Australian Richard Green in 1997 after a closing bogey six on the same hole, chipped to six feet and made the putt.

He still had ground to make up on Finland’s Mikko Ilonen at that stage, but as Ilonen finished with a six at the 18th Woosnam rounded off his day’s work in brilliant style, holing putts of 15 and eight feet at the eighth and ninth to cut the gap to only one.

Former British amateur champion Ilonen had a 67 to reach halfway on the 10 under par mark of 134, but world number two and defending champion Ernie Els had just teed off again and at six under after his opening 66 remained a red-hot favourite.

After his first day 69 Woosnam had borrowed the driver of playing partner Thomas Bjorn. But while it did give him some extra length, the former world number one is critical of how golf has changed in the last few years.

“I don’t like the game any more,” he said. “There does not seem to be any finesse any more. with these new balls you just stand up and hit it as hard as you can.

“It’s not fun. It’s just not enjoyable – it’s just a power game and it’s spoiling all the courses. It’s a shame really.”

Bjorn is alongside Woosnam on nine under after also scoring 66 – and after also causing excitement on the 18th, pulling his drive and almost hitting a television crew including former Ryder Cup player Ken Brown.

They were filming on the spot in the sandy wasteland from where Els played a fantastic shot on his way to winning the title last year.

Bjorn’s ball luckily ran through the area back onto grass, from where he needed only a five-iron to the green. He two-putted for one of his six birdies.

Ilonen also had six birdies, but then took the edge of his round with his finish.

The 23-year-old turned professional after winning the British amateur title in 2000 and then appearing in the Masters at Augusta the following season.

He was ninth in the 2001 Open championship at Lytham and also third in the Wales Open last year.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was borderline for qualifying on one under following a 70, but former Walker Cup amateur Jamie Elson comfortably made it through on four under on his professional debut.

Elson, whose father Pip played the European tour, had eight birdies, but also a double bogey six on the ninth. He was close to going in the water on the last as well, a three-iron from 209 yards making it over with a yard to spare.

Off the course players were still discussing whether to play in next week’s Qatar Masters in view of possible war with nearby Iraq.

The European tour say the tournament is on at the moment, but there could be further withdrawals after FIFA’s announcement yesterday that they are postponing the World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates – Dubai is part of that – due to start on March 25.

A statement said: “FIFA must take into account its responsibility towards the players, officials and other parties as well as towards the media and spectators.” Twenty-four teams, including America and England, were due to take part.

Qatar is closer to Iraq than the UAE, but after visiting the capital Doha yesterday, European tour executive director Ken Schofield said: “All preparations including golf course, accommodation and transportation are complete and secure. Additional contingencies are in place should eventualities require.”