Harrington, narrowly beaten by the South African to the Order of Merit title for the last two years, was hot on his heels after his second consecutive 66.

But the Dubliner – playing his first event of 2003 after an unprecedented nine-week break – knows he will have to improve over the weekend to claim his first win in Malaysia after a run of fourth, third, second, second and 11th in his last five visits.

“I’m pleased with the score because I didn’t play anywhere near as well as yesterday,” said the Irishman, who won his last two events of 2002 – including beating Tiger Woods in the world number one’s own tournament.

“I wasn’t as good mentally – maybe I had more expectations.

“I didn’t swing it well, but to shoot five under on a day like that is very pleasing. I’m very pleased to be in contention in my first tournament back.”

Harrington’s only bogey of the day on the third was a perfect example of what he felt was his poor mental approach.

“Over the ball I’m thinking too much,” he added.

“I’m standing over the ball after choosing the club and worrying about hitting it in the rubbish on the right or thinking about my swing as I would on the practice tee. It’s not exactly flowing.

“On the third I was in the greenside bunker and was going to hit a pitching wedge but changed to my gap wedge and skinned it over the green. That was a mental error.

“I’ve got to have a better mental focus and swing it better. I have to up my game a little. I couldn’t continue playing the way I am for the next 36 holes and expect to be there.

“But I would have taken two 66s at the start of the week – I would have taken even higher. You’re never really sure after a long break how things will go.”

Goosen’s 12-under halfway total of 130 gave him a one-shot clubhouse lead over Korea’s Ted Oh, with Harrington and Thailand’s Thammanoon Srirot a shot further back.

Overnight leader Arjun Atwal had moved one ahead of Goosen with four birdies in his first seven holes. But he was stopped in his tracks as the stifling humidity sparked off an electrical storm shortly before 2.30pm local time.

More than an hour of torrential rain, thunder and lightning – during which the television compound was struck – left the course unplayable. Despite the best efforts of the greenkeepers, play was eventually abandoned for the day.

Atwal was one of 73 players yet to complete their second round and will return at 8am local time tomorrow.

Lee Westwood had picked up one shot in five holes to lie six under, alongside Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley who had fired two birdies in seven holes.

Goosen and Harrington were both glad to be safely back in the clubhouse. But the South African was still disappointed that a brilliant start did not translate to a more sustained assault on a historic 59.

The world number five started on the 10th and played the back nine in just 27 shots. But failed to birdie the par-five 17th, despite having just a 4-iron second shot to the green.

The former US Open champion should have made amends with a birdie on the first. But after driving to within 30 yards of the green, he hit his second shot into a greenside bunker and failed to get up and down.

Goosen was four under for the three par-fives yesterday but made just one birdie today and added: “It turned into quite a disappointing round.

“I shot 29 on the front nine, and that was probably the worst I could have scored. I messed up 17 so could have shot 27.

“Then you start thinking about a 59. I was within 30 yards of the green on the first and thinking about getting to eight under.

“But I was chipping from the rough over a bunker and caught it a bit fat and plugged it in the sand. When I made five there and a par five on the third I knew that story was out of the window.

“Overall I am happy with the round, but in this game you can always be better. I also shot 29 for nine holes last week in Perth, so I hope I can put the two together and shoot a really low score.”