Ernie Els, the defending champion, has surged to a three-shot lead at the half-way stage of the Johnnie Walker Classic at Phuket, in Thailand.

The South African managed a seven-under-par 65 in the second round on Friday with six birdies in seven holes from the fifth. He is now 12-under-par, 11 shots ahead of his expected rival, Tiger Woods.

He is concerned, however, about the possible loss of his caddy, Ricky Roberts, who twisted his ankle coming from his hotel.

"If he can't make it, then you never know if it might affect things," Els said. "I haven't done my own yardages for some years, so I hope he'll be okay."

Els is three ahead of Germany's Alex Cejka - one of his co-leaders in the first round - and four ahead of recent World Cup team winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

Harrington shot 67, grabbing birdies at the 11th and 12th. "I'm surprised to be where I am," he said, "and I'm still not expecting much. It's eight weeks since my last competitive round."

Tiger Woods: Bogied the 17th

Woods only managed 71 for 143, confessing to "a kind of stalled round when I couldn't get anything going."

He still maintains that he is the man to beat. Els said, "he likes to charge over the weekend, but if I can keep my game going like it is I'll be okay, I think."

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who was in a four-way tie for the lead, slumped to an 81 and 148 to miss the cut by a stroke after suffering a serious stomach upset which nearly caused him to pull out after nine holes.

"I tried desperately to make the cut and then hope the problem cleared up at the weekend," said Bjorn. "But I was just too ill to concentrate."
 

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