Fisher and Poulter lead birdie bonanza in Dubai

Dubai: Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter led the way with turbo-charged displays as the elite of European golf jockeyed for position on a day of superb low-scoring in the Dubai World Championship second round.

In the two-way tussle to finish the season as European number one on Sunday, Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer opened an eight-shot advantage over Graeme McDowell who is second in the money list. German Kaymer shot a 70 for a seven-under total of 137 while Briton McDowell slumped to a 73 for 145. Up for grabs for Kaymer and McDowell, the only two players who can top the money-list, is a USD 1.26 million cheque for winning the tournament plus a USD 1.5 million bonus for finishing the season as Europe`s number one. "It`s not over," said McDowell who is playing his fifth tournament in five weeks and acknowledged he felt mentally drained. "Going 65-65 at the weekend is not out of the question.” "I just have to rest," the Northern Irishman told reporters. "I have got to somehow go out and relax and have a good time, maybe have a few beers tonight and hang out by the hotel pool."Irish Open champion Fisher was as relaxed as anyone in the Dubai heat, equalling fellow Briton Lee Westwood`s eight-under-par course record 64 set last year to finish on 135. Poulter, bidding for back-to-back titles after his victory in the Hong Kong Open last Sunday, carded a 66 to join compatriot Fisher on nine-under. World number one Westwood was one stroke adrift in third place after a 67 while fellow Briton Paul Casey (67) also joined the birdie bonanza to take joint fourth spot on 137 with Kaymer and Thailand`s Thongchai Jaidee (69).Fisher made his intentions clear from the outset, birdying four of the first seven holes. Bureau Report