Els back in contention as Atwal leads Asian hopes on borrowed driver
Sweden's Pierre Fulke battled to a two-under-par 70 to keep his overnight lead after the morning session of the second round at the Qatar Masters as South African star Ernie Els battled back into the frame.
Fulke shot five birdies on another windswept day at Doha Golf Club to lead the US$1.5 million event on eight-under-par 136. The Qatar Masters is jointly sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
French duo Raphael Jacquelin and Gregory Havret threw in their challenges, shooting 68 and 67 respectively while India's Arjun Atwal, Asia's number one in 2003, moved into contention with a 69, despite playing with a borrowed driver and a brand new putter after his two favourite clubs went missing before the start of his round.
Tournament favourite Els bounced back from a disappointing 73 in the first round, returning a 69 that included five birdies for a two-under aggregate, six off the pace heading into the weekend play. Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee, playing alongside Els, was also on two under after a second-straight 71.
Els, fresh from a third victory in the Dubai Desert Classic, said the demanding Doha layout had kept him on the back foot.
'I can't really put my finger on it here. A lot of times, you hit what you think is a good shot and it finishes nowhere. I hit a lot of good shots but the ball scatters away from the hole. At least I played better,' said Els.