TITLE-HOLDER PAUL CASEY MISSES

THE CUT AS MARTIN KAYMER GOES

SIX SHOTS CLEAR IN ABU DHABI

For European Tour Rookie of the Year, Germany's Martin Kaymer, it's going to be a wonderful weekend - he hopes. But for defending champion Paul Casey (pictured right) it's going to be an empty two days because he failed by two shots to survive the halfway cut which fell at one-over-par 145 in the Abu Dhjabi Championship.

Kaymer spread eight birdies evenly - four in each half - in a brilliant second-round 65 (seven under par) to go an amazing six strokes clear of the field.

The first prize in this European Tour event is 225,421 Euros and it would be a brave man who would say that 23-year-old Kaymer is not going to win it. Henrik Stenson is his closest rival with 36 holes to go.

Englishman Steve Webster and Spani'sGonzalo Fernandez-Castano head the chasing pack on six-under-par 138, one shot ahead of Ignacio Garrido (Spain), James Kingston (South Africa), Phillip Archer (Britain) and Peter Hedblom (Sweden).
"I am really, really satisfied with this round," Kaymer after posting a two-round total of 13-under-par 131.
"Yesterday I was satisfied too, but today was amazing. I made lots of putts," he said.
Stenson, who carded a two-under-par 70 to go seven under for the tournament, knows he will have to produce his best to catch up with Kaymer.
"I started off well with those three birdies in a row from the second, but couldn't create many opportunities on the back nine. Overall, I am satisfied with my round, it could have been still better," he said.

"I know it will be hard to catch Martin, but I am looking forward to the challenge ahead. Let's see how things shape up. I am open to any suggestions on how to catch him on the weekend," added the Dubai-based Swede.

Only two Scots made the halfway cut - Paul Lawrie on 143 (70-73) and Colin Montgomerie (72-72).

QUALIFIERS

Par 144 (2 x 72)

131 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 66 65
137 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 67 70
138 Steve Webster 70 68, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 70 68
139 James Kingston (Rsa) 71 68, Phillip Archer 71 68, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 69 70
140 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 68 72, Anthony Wall 71 69, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 70 70, Ian Poulter 70 70, Mark Foster 70 70
141 Richard Finch 71 70, Jamie Donaldson 70 71, John Bickerton 71 70
142 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 71 71, Adam Scott (Aus) 68 74, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 71, Lee Westwood 69 73, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 73 69, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 72
143 Nick Dougherty 72 71, Scott Strange (Aus) 72 71, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 75 68, Maarten Lafeber (Nzl) 74 69, Peter Lawrie 73 70, Oliver Fisher 72 71, Simon Wakefield 72 71, Paul Lawrie 70 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 74 69, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 73 70, Richard Green (Aus) 75 68, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 72, Paul McGinley 72 71, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 71 72
144 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 73 71, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 71 73, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 73 71, Mikko Ilonen (Fij) 70 74, Colin Montgomerie 72 72, Phillip Price 73 71, Simon Dyson 73 71, Darren Clarke 72 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 73 71, Paul Broadhurst 72 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 74 70, Luke Donald 71 73, Sam Little 75 69, Padraig Harrington 72 72
145 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 74 71, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 75, Leif Westerberg (Swe) 72 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 75 70, Benn Barham 74 71, Paul Sheehan (Aus) 73 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 74

MISSED THE CUT
146 Sam Walker 73 73, Stephen Dodd 74 72, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 78 68, Jean Van de Velde (Fra) 73 73, Alastair Forsyth 73 73, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 78 68, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 73 73
147 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 76 71, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 73 74, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 72 75, Graeme Storm 71 76, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 73 74, Paul Casey 75 72, Gary Murphy 74 73, Andrew Marshall 72 75, Ariel Canete (Arg) 74 73
148 Lee Slattery 72 76, David Griffiths 76 72, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 76 72, Stephen Gallacher 73 75.

149 Carl Suneson (Spa) 74 75, Zane Scotland (Eng) 77 72, Ross McGowan 70 79
150 Marc Warren 76 74, Oliver Wilson 76 74, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 76 74, Markus Brier (Aut) 76 74, Pablo Martin (Spa) 75 75
151 Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 74, Ross Fisher 77 74, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 74 77, David Howell 74 77
153 Michael Jonzon (Swe) 75 78
154 Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 80 74
156 Scott Drummond 77 79
164 Ernie Rellon (Phi) 84 80
Retired - Jose Manuel Lara (Spa)
Withdrawn - Simon Khan