Ten under par did not even make it into the top 10 after the first two rounds while the cut fell at four under par and claimed the scalps of Nick Faldo, Padraig Harrington and tournament promoter Bernhard Langer for the first time in the event’s 17-year history.

A staggering total of 1,165 birdies and 42 eagles were made during the first two days, while several players had a chance to shoot the first-ever 59 on the European Tour.

With scoring conditions again perfect with bright sunshine and no wind to speak of, the course’s only defence was some difficult pin positions on probably the best greens seen all year.

No fewer than 14 of the holes were cut within five yards of the edge of the green, while the only central position on the sixth hole had only four yards of green behind it.

Whether this approach would work with the leaders remained to be seen, with the top nine players a collective 123 under par.

Poulter leads by one from Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez with another Spaniard, Carlos Rodiles, a shot further back alongside Miles Tunnicliff.

The tight pin position on the first appeared to be little deterrent to yet more birdies, Paul Casey, Gary Orr and KJ Choi all picking up shots.

Sweden’s Niclas Fasth had also birdied the first and followed up with two more in a row to improve to 12 under par, four off the lead.