But Clarke then birdied six of the last seven holes and this morning he almost holed-in-one at the short second, then eagled the 497-yard fourth.

Twice a runner-up in the event – Els has finished second three times – Clarke stood seven under par and joint fourth.

With Els among the later starters the new leader at nine under was Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, enjoying the season of his life already.

Jimenez has won three times, lies second in the Order of Merit and is almost certain of earning a second Ryder Cup cap at the age of 40.

After failing to get up and down at the first the Malaga golfer, vice-captain to Seve Ballesteros in the 1997 match at Valderrama, birdied the second, fourth and seventh to move one ahead not only of Els, but also world number two Vijay Singh.

The Fijian, closing in on Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings, made a 10ft putt on the first and also birdied the sixth. And when he bogeyed the next he came straight back with a further birdie.

Also making his presence felt was Justin Rose, who as a youngster used to travel from his Hampshire home to watch the event.

Rose had a hat-trick of birdies from the second and at that point was joint leader. But he bogeyed the short fifth.

Colin Montgomerie, meanwhile, was finding himself in a battle to survive the halfway cut, mixing three bogeys with two birdies in the first seven holes to stand one under.

The 40-year-old Scot, whose 128th place in Germany last week was his worst performance since his European tour debut in 1987, needs a top-five finish to have a chance of earning a place in next month’s US Open and a victory to be exempt for the Open at Troon in July.

Both were a long way off.

Nick Faldo, also not in the field for the US Open, stood two under after seven holes, while Ian Woosnam looked like missing the cut on three over after 10 holes.

Jimenez's bogey at the ninth allowed Rose to regain a share of the lead, but the Spaniard birdied the long 12th to nose ahead once more.

However, he then double-bogeyed the 13th and now it was Clarke, Rose and Els sharing top spot, Clarke having birdied the long 12th.

Singh, meanwhile, bogeyed the short 10th and then took six down the 12th to move back to six under and two behind.

Montgomerie had another bogey at the ninth to turn in 37 and level par, but he birdied the 11th and 12th.

Clarke now shares second spot with Ernie Els at eight under. Justin Rose leads by one shot at nine under.