 | R2 LEADERBOARD -6 Gregory Havret (Fra), Gary Murphy (Irl), Andrew Oldcorn (GB), Nobuhito Sato (Jpn), Ian Woosnam (GB) -5 Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Brian Davis (GB), Kenneth Ferrie (GB), Darren Fichardt (SA), Pierre Fulke (Swe), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Peter Hedblom (Swe), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Michael Jonzon (Swe), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Paul Marantz (Aus), Richard McEvoy (GB), Steven O'Hara (GB), Martin Wiegele (Aut) |
Ian Woosnam birdied the last to make it a five-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage of the Qatar Masters. The Welshman is joined on six under par by Gregory Havret of France, Ireland's Gary Murphy, Scotland's Andrew Oldcorn and Japanese newcomer Nobuhito Sato.
A shot back are 14 players including England's Brian Davis, Swede Pierre Fulke and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Sandy Lyle is in another large group on four under, but Paul McGinley, second in Dubai last week, missed the cut.
After four missed cuts in a row, the 46-year-old Woosnam carded a four-under 32 on the back nine to claim a share of the lead.
But all 84 players still in the tournament will harbour hopes of the �135,663 first prize.
Only five strokes separate the five leaders from those who made the weekend - a European tour record.
World number one for almost a full year after he won the Masters in 1991, Woosnam now stands 211th in the rankings.
|  I'm still not over-confident, but hopefully my game will improve as it goes on |
But it was only last Sunday that 201st-placed Mark O'Meara, now 47, ended six years without a tour win at the Desert Classic. "I'm struggling to get to the par fives in two, but last week and this you haven't had to hit it long to do well," said Woosnam.
Woosnam rolled in putts of 10 and seven feet at the 11th and 14th, drove the green on the 306-yard 16th and then pitched to six feet on the last for his second successive 69.
"I was thinking about the cut going down the 10th, but you've only got to hit a little bit of confidence and form and it can change so quickly.
"I'm still not over-confident, but hopefully my game will improve as it goes on."
Black ribbons
The European Tour announced players would observe a minute's silence during the third round on Saturday as a mark of respect for the victims of Thursday's Madrid bombings.
"Black ribbons will be available on the first tee for any player or caddie wishing to wear one," a tour spokesman said.
Seven Spanish players are playing at Doha Golf Club.
"I watched television last night and saw the pictures from Madrid," said Jimenez. "Golf is not important right now."
MMIX
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