Doha: Austria's Markus Brier is the surprise leader by one stroke from former champion Darren Fichardt at the halfway stage of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy.
The 42 year-old Austrian shot a second round 66 (-6) to reach seven under par for the tournament on a day that saw several more illustrious names fail to make the cut in the $2.5 million (Dh9.2 million) event — third stop on The European Tour's Desert Swing.
It was a superb round by Brier whose sixth and final birdie on the ninth — his 18th — ensured a one shot lead over 2003 champion Fichardt who carded a four under par 68.
A two-time European Tour winner, Brier had to go back to Qualifying School last November to retain his European Tour card and is playing on a sponsor's invite. "I got lucky on the last hole as I hit it way right off the tee, maybe 30-40 yards right," he said. "Fortunately I had a good lie but I had to move three quite big stones. Actually my caddie had to help me because the biggest one was like, I don't know, two basketballs or so, so I could hit a 7 iron forward.
Two-shot win
"I was lucky to make a birdie from a wayward drive, so that's like a two-shot win there."
Experience seems to be the key over the 7,388-yard Doha course with four former winners in the top eight. Defending champion Robert Karlsson of Sweden remains two shots off the lead on five under par alongside Denmark's Thomas Bjorn and Englishman Richard Finch, while 1999 champion Paul Lawrie and 2007 winner Retief Goosen are on four under with South African Thomas Aiken.
But while it was a brilliant performance by World Number 478 Brier, for Lee Westwood — who ranks 477 places higher —there was only disappointment.
Putting for eagle on the last, the Englishman missed by an inch to leave himself on four over par and out of the tournament.
In total, 76 players will return for round three which gets underway at Doha Golf Club at 6.30am today
