DOHA — Ryder Cup stars Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia were among four players tied for the lead at the Qatar Masters after the second round Thursday. The leaderboard was crowded, with 15 players within three shots of the leaders, thanks to mainly calm conditions at Doha Golf Course. Kaymer (67), Garcia (66) overnight leader Ricardo Santos of Portugal and Marcus Fraser of Australia were at 9-under-par totals of 135. They had a one-shot lead over five players, including former US Open champion Michael Campbell (68). Another five were a further shot back at 7-under. Three shots behind after the first round, the former top-ranked Kaymer stormed into the lead with a 5-under, thanks to his short game. He holed a chip from the fringe on 13 and made several long putts including for birdie on the ninth. Kaymer had a bogey-free round that featured five birdies. The understated German felt his round was merely “OK,” and believed his score would not be enough to hold up over the last two rounds. “I played a lot better than the last few rounds I played, especially in Abu Dhabi,” Kaymer said. “But I was a little fortunate today, a few putts that dropped, but on those greens that happens sometimes, and I think 9-under is a good position to be in.” Garcia, coming off minor eye surgery last year, said the pristine conditions allowed him to hit a full range of shots including “draws, fades, high, low, things like that.” “I definitely feel like I played a little bit better than yesterday,” the Spaniard said. “Hit a good amount of good shots. I gave myself a lot of good chances for birdies. Hit some good putts that didn't go and then made some nice ones, too.” Santos (70) had a one-shot lead after the first round and got off to a strong start Thursday. He had three birdies on his first four holes but bogeyed the fifth before mixing in a bogey and two birdies on the back nine as the wind picked up. “Struck the ball very well today. I just missed a few shots but still happy with the round,” said Santos, the 2012 European Tour rookie of the year. “This afternoon, the wind is a little bit stronger than the morning, so I'm happy with 2-under this afternoon. Yesterday, you could reach the 16th; today, no. So I think it's a big difference with the wind.” Justin Rose, who finished second last week in Abu Dhabi, was in contention early on with two birdies on his front nine but two bogeys coming in dropped him to 5 under overall and a tie for 20th. Several big names missed the cut, including last year's winner and former British Open champion Paul Lawrie and Europe's new Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley. — AP
