The early lead today was taken by South African Anton Haig who moved a shot clear of the field and nine under, eight shots ahead of the Northern Irishman.

McDowell said he was very happy with the way he had been striking the ball after his opening 67 which had left him just two shots off the pace overnight.

"But I made a couple of bogies out there on the way coming home, but it's a very easy course to make bogey on anywhere," he said.

He really found that today dropping two shots in his opening two holes to go back to three under and then made three more on the back nine where yesterday he had had four birdies and no dropped shots.

But he was still in a tie for 46th place with the later starters on the course and should make the cut.

Colin Montgomerie moved into a share of tenth place, four off the pace, early on with a two under round of 70 to go with his opening 69.

England's Paul Casey shot a second-round 75 virtually to end any hopes of making the cut.

Casey, who started the day tied for 44th after carding a first-round 71, was level par heading down the last, but a double-bogey seven ruined his chances as the Ryder Cup hero carded a two-over-par 146 at the Blue Canyon Country Club.

Clubhouse leader Haig leapt into a one-shot advantage over Australia's James Nitties after recording a tournament-low 64 to move to nine under following an opening-round 71.

"I just kept good composure out there, kept fighting and never gave up," said Haig.

"I hit all the par fives in two and really did hit it good out there.

"I hardly missed a fairway, putted really solid and I really hit it a lot better than yesterday."