Great Scott! Adam’s two shots clear

A second round 65 put Adam Scott two clear at the Singapore Open, but Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell are still in the hunt.

Adam Scott took control of the Singapore Open after a second-round 65 saw the Australian establish a two-stroke advantage, but defending champions Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell are still in the hunt at Sentosa Golf Club.
Scott blitzed the front nine of the Tanjon course in just 29 shots, sinking five birdies from the third to the eighth holes and adding an eagle three at the sixth.
The Australian cooled off heading home, collecting just one birdie to go with two bogeys and signing for a second consecutive six-under-par effort that left him two clear of the pack going into the weekend.
However, a number of players are still to complete their second rounds following Thursday morning’s four-hour storm delay.
“It was a good day overall, it was a long day – 30 holes of golf – so I’m pleased with the outcome,” Scott told the European Tour website.
“It was a shame to slow down a bit on the back nine but that’s golf I suppose. It’s out there and you still have to go out and make the putts if you are going to score well.
“Every time you have won somewhere you always enjoy going back and you have good feelings and I have had a great run here in Singapore in the past. It would be great to have another great run over the weekend and get win number three.
“But I just enjoy being here, everyone is really supportive and I have a good time playing golf here.”
Poulter hauled himself back into contention with a fabulous 63 at the Tanjon course.
The defending champion found himself languishing down the leaderboard on two under par, but after going out in 34, Poulter picked up six birdies on the way back – including at the last courtesy of a monster 80-foot putt – to move within two of Scott.
Graeme McDowell lies in a tie for third on nine under as he could not capitalise on a fast start to eventually card a 68.
McDowell had spoken prior to the tournament of his aim to reduce Martin Kaymer’s lead in the Race to Dubai standings, and the Northern Irishman set about his task in determined fashion.
The 31-year-old recorded birdies on the first four holes before a bogey on five checked his progress. That was to prove the sum total of his scoring as a birdie on the 13th was given back at the very next hole.
He was joined by Fredrik Andersson Hed and Kang Kyun-nam, who returned rounds of 65 and 67 respectively, and Joost Luiten, who was tearing up the Tanjon course with the Dutchman six under for his round through 12 holes before darkness called a halt to proceedings.
Rikard Karlberg, Prayad Marksaeng, Jeev Milkha Singh and Liang Wen-chong were tied for seventh on eight under par, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson was joined by Kim Bi-o, John Huh and Gregory Bourdy on seven under.
Kaymer was in a large group at six under par after the German completed a second consecutive 68. He was joined by Phil Mickelson, who shot a 69, and Chris Wood, who followed up yesterday’s stunning 63 over the Tanjon course with a disappointing two-over 73 on the more difficult Serapong layout.

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