Doha – German ace Martin Kaymer moved into contention at the $2.5 million Qatar Masters with a fluent 67 at the Doha Golf Club on Thursday.
His two-round aggregate of nine-under par 135 helped him share the lead with Australian Marcus Fraser, with Chilean Felipe Aguilar and South African George Coetzee one shot down among the early finishers.
Overnight leader Ricardo Santos of Portugal, who is on 65, was yet to start his second round as once again perfect conditions greeted the golfers.
Kaymer, the 2010 US PGA Championship winner, started off brilliantly with two birdies over the first two holes and played risk-free golf thereafter to position himself perfectly for the next two rounds.
Fraser, a two-time winner on the European Tour had a birilliant if unusual round.
After parring the first nine holes, the world number 58 produced a string of five birdies over the next seven holes before finishing with two pars.
Chilean Aguilar shot six birdies, but a bogey on the fifth ruined what could have been a perfect round.
Coetzee found himself in contention despite a double bogey seven on the 10th, his 67 giving him an aggregate of 136. – Sapa-AFP