Poulter and Fisher Lead the Way Thru 36 Holes in Dubai

Ian Poulter fired a 66 to share the lead with countryman Ross Fisher at (-9) thru two rounds at the Dubai World Championships presented by DP World.

The story is eerily similar to last week’s victory at the Hong Kong Open as Poulter has yet to make a bogie over his first 36 holes.  His current bogie-less streak included 6 birdies on Friday as he got off to a fast start at the Jumeirah Golf Estates shooting 32 on the front nine.

With the colourful Englishman in fine form for the second straight week, it’s no wonder that the bookmakers now have him as a co-favourite with Ryder Cup teammate Lee Westwood at (3-1).

Fisher, meanwhile, birdied all four of Jumeirah’s par-5’s en route to carding a 64 on Friday.  Accordingly, he sits just behind Westwood and Poulter on the betting board at (6-1).

Fisher hasn’t been spectacular of late, but he hasn’t been bad either.  The native of Ascot has missed the top-25 just once in his last 5 starts, including an 11th place finish at the HSBC Masters.

World #1 Lee Westwood was paired with Poulter on Friday and wasn’t going to let his friend steal the show.  Westy, as Poulter calls him, now sits just one off the lead after a second round 67.

His round wasn’t the clean clinical performance shown by his playing partner, as Westwood made 7 birdies and 2 bogies.  He dropped a shot on the par-5 14th in round two and he’ll have to steer clear of bogeying any more par-5’s if he’s going to keep pace with the leaders.

Martin Kaymer, the world’s 3rd ranked player, fell back a bit on day two as he managed just a 70 after opening with a 67.  His putter went cold on the back nine Friday and he now sits two back at (-7).

Understandably, the books haven’t lost faith in the German wunderkind as he joins Fisher at (6-1).

Other notables.  Francesco Molinari put himself into contention with a 67 on Friday and is four off the lead heading to the weekend.  Molinari recently took down the HSBC Masters in a star studded field and the bookies will send him off at (16-1) in round three.

Finally, from the land of longer odds is British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.  The South African shot himself back into contention on Friday with a 66 to put him at (-5).

Oosthuizen has managed just one top-25 in his last 4 starts which could explain why the books have him at (40-1).