Local golf stars prepare for Qatar test

With the windy conditions forecast to worsen later in the day, the second leg of the European Tour's Middle East swing was a stern test for the star-studded field, but scoring was better than expected during the morning.

Olazabal, who two weeks ago in South Africa led the Volvo Golf Champions early on the final day, produced more of his old form to reach a superb five under par after 11 holes, but then bogeyed the next two.

Daly, also 45, has not had a victory for eight years - for Olazabal it is seven - but was three under as well with four holes to play.

That put them one behind Scotland's Paul Lawrie, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Korean KJ Choi, while world number four Martin Kaymer was two under and Sergio Garcia one further back.

Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell were among those not teeing off until the afternoon and keeping a keen eye on the weather, along with Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland.

Lawrie had a chance to win in Abu Dhabi last weekend, but in the end had to settle for eighth place. Winner in Qatar in 1999 - the same season he captured The Open at Carnoustie - he kicked off with a hat-trick of birdies and reached four under on the 433-yard second, his 11th.

Colsaerts was tied for the lead standing on the final tee of the Volvo Golf Champions, but ran up a bogey six to miss out on the play-off in which Branden Grace beat fellow South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.

After 14 holes today the big hitter had yet to drop a stroke and had birdied three of the par fives as well as the 429-yard 12th.

World number 13 Choi, winner of the prestigious Players Championship in Florida last May, was unable to make his presence felt in Abu Dhabi, but twos on the 13th and 17th helped him to grab a share of the lead.