GRAEME McDOWELL LEADS BY ONE IN NEDBANK CHALLENGE

FROM THE BBC SPORTS WEBSITE

Graeme McDowell took a one-shot lead at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, despite playing an air shot during his second round.

The Northern Irishman's five-under-par 67 contained seven birdies but also a double bogey on the par-five 14th where he hit a rock and missed the ball.

World number two Lee Westwood, German Martin Kaymer, Swede Robert Karlsson and American Jason Dufner are lying second on 68

Simon Dyson is on four under while world number one Luke Donald is two shots further back after a 72.

"That's exactly what I wanted," said McDowell. "It's a pretty bunched leaderboard, which says a lot about how tough the course is when you start leaving the beaten track.

"I'm very happy to finish with a couple of birdies after a bit of a whoopsie on the par five."

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel began the day tied for the lead with defending champion Westwood, but struggled to a 74 after running up a double-bogey six on the eighth.

Open champion Darren Clarke, who was last after the first round, moved above Francesco Molinari into 11th place in the select field after he fired a 69 and the Italian, last year's winner, slumped to a 77.

HALFWAY LEADERBOARD

Par 144 (2x72)

137 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 70 67.

138 Jason Dufner (United States) 70 68, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 70 68, Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 69 69, Lee Westwood (England) 68 70.

140 Kim Kyung-Tae (S Korea) 70 70, Simon Dyson (England) 70 70.
141 Anders Hansen (Denmark) 72 69, Luke Donald (England) 70 71.

142 Charl Schwartzel (S Africa) 68 74.

143 Darren Clarke (N Ireland) 74 69.

149 Francesco Molinari (Italy) 72 77.