World number three Ernie Els fired a sizzling 10-under-par 62 to open a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Asian Open on Friday. The South African carded eight birdies and closed with a brilliant eagle for a halfway total of 15-under 129 following his lowest round of the year. New Zealand's Eddie Lee, who missed the cut in all 10 tournaments he has played this year, was his closest challenger on 11-under after shooting a 66. France's Raphael Jacquelin produced his second successive 67 to finish a further shot back.
Els is working on minor adjustments to his game after finishing a career-worst 47th at the US Masters but he looked back to his best in steamy Shanghai.
"I felt comfortable with my swing and just wanted to keep going," said the three-times major winner, who tied for sixth at last week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Beijing.
Els shared a seven-way tie for the lead after Thursday's first round but he holed several long putts on Friday to open a gap on his rivals at Tomson Golf Club.
The highlight, however, was an eagle on the ninth where Els drilled a four-iron from the rough to within a whisker of the hole.
LEE BREAKTHROUGH:
Lee's 11-under total was all the more remarkable after failing to make the cut in seven Asian Tour events and three on the Australasian Tour this year.
Danish Ryder Cup player Thomas Bjorn had a 65 in hot and humid conditions early in the day for a share of fourth place on eight under.
Britain's Simon Wakefield shot 69 to join Bjorn on 136 with Frenchmen Jean Van de Velde and Jean-Francois Lucquin, who had 69 and 66 respectively despite sporadic afternoon rain showers. Six-times major winner Nick Faldo carded a 70 to go two-under, one ahead of Ryder Cup players Colin Montgomerie and defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez.
The $1.5 million tournament is jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.
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