SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD (GB & Ireland unless stated):
-9 R Fisher, I Poulter -8 L Westwood -7 P Casey, M Kaymer (Ger) T Jaidee (Thai) Selected others: -3 L Donald -2 D Clarke-1 R McIlroy +1 G McDowell

Graeme McDowell's chances of being crowned Europe's number one golfer are looking slim after his 73 in the second round of the Dubai World Championship.

Only a top three finish would give him a chance of overtaking Martin Kaymer in the last week of the Race to Dubai, formerly the European Order of Merit.

But, while Kaymer lies tied fourth on seven under, US Open champion McDowell has slipped to one over and joint 42nd.

Germany's Kaymer could even overtake Lee Westwood as the world's number one.

The 25-year-old German might have to win the tournament to dethrone England's Westwood, who is lying in third place at the halfway stage at the 'Earth' course in Dubai.

606: DEBATE Kaymer is another really good role model. You don't need to be flash - just solid, well-schooled, well-practiced, hard working... Doc-TTBS

A tightly packed leaderboard has Ryder Cup team-mates Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter setting the pace at nine under par.

Englishman Fisher hit a 64 to equal the course record established by Westwood in winning the title last year.

When told of McDowell's position eight shots behind him and one over par for the tournament, Kaymer said: "He will find it difficult to win from there."

Frustrated McDowell, who in the early stages of his round rose from 25th to sixth spot with three birdies in the first seven holes before bogeying four of the following seven, accepted that prediction.

"I don't think I have a huge amount in the tank and I am finding it tough to scramble," he stated.

"I was just very quick to lose patience with myself.

"There are enough good shots in there to give myself a chance, but I am getting frustrated quickly.

"I had three three-putts yesterday and from the middle of the eighth fairway with an eight-iron I missed the green and then did the same on the ninth.

"Just simple, stupid mistakes - the sign of a man whose head is not very sharp.

"But I am going to give it 100% - everything I have left - and it is not over. Two 65s now are not out of the question."

First round leader Robert Karlsson, meanwhile, had an even worse time than McDowell as a 75 dropped him all the way to joint 12th - meaning he is now five behind the leaders.

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