Sensational Spain take lead

Jimenez and Larrazabal dominate on day two

Last updated: 28th November 2008

Miguel Angel Jimenez World Cup of Golf 27/11/2008

Jimenez: Enjoying himself

Second-round leaderboard:
Spain -17
Australia -13
Germany -13
Sweden -12

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Spain hold a four-stroke lead at the World Cup of Golf after Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal combined for a sensational nine-under-par 63 at Mission Hills on Friday.

Playing foursomes, Jimenez and Larrazabal moved Spain on to a seventeen-under-par total after 36 holes - Thursday having seen the pair lie in a tie for third place after shooting 64 in the fourball format.

Australia (Richard Green/Brendan Jones) and first-round leaders Germany (Martin Kaymer/Alex Cejka) lie in joint second place after their pairings respectively shot 68 and 69.

Pre-tournament favourites Sweden (Robert Karlsson/Henrik Stenson) are now five strokes off the pace after carding a 67.

Meanwhile, the United States (Ben Curtis/Brandt Snedeker) and Ireland (Graeme McDowell/Paul McGinley) are six strokes behind after respectively shooting 69 and 68.

Strong start

Spain got off to a strong start as they picked up a birdie on the par-three second before Jimenez sank an eagle putt from 16 feet on the third.

They picked up a total of seven strokes on the front nine, with back-to-back birdies then following on the 10th and 11th holes.

They dropped their first shot of the day on the 15th but bounced back on the very next hole when 2008 European Tour Rookie of the Year Larrazabal holed a 40-foot birdie putt.

However, he subsequently missed an eight-footer on the 18th that would have taken Spain five clear.

"We complemented very well today on the golf course," Jimenez said. "We didn't have any mistakes, except at hole number 15 where we made a bogey.

"Apart from that we played well. We enjoyed ourselves and that is very important."

Germany had a relatively disappointing run heading out - Kaymer and Cejka seeing two birdies cancelled out by two bogeys - but picked up three shots coming home.

In contrast, Australia had four birdies on the front nine before coming home with two birdies against two bogeys.

Karlsson and Stenson, meanwhile, kept themselves in contention with seven birdies and just two bogeys.

"We hit some really good shots and made some really good putts," Stenson said. "There is still a long way to go but hopefully we can reel Spain in."

Frustration

There was more frustration for England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher on day two, with the pair combining for a two-over 74 to lie a full 16 strokes off the pace.

Defending champions Scotland (Colin Montgomerie/Alastair Forsyth) are two strokes ahead after a one-over 73, while Wales lie dead last after Bradley Dredge and Richard Johnson slumped to a five-over 77.

Saturday's third round returns to fourballs before switching back to foursomes for the final round.

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