At the top of the leaderboard, Schwartzel's quest for a second Alfred Dunhill Championship title in three years is gaining momentum as he takes a two-stroke lead into the weekend.

Schwartzel signed for another 68 in Friday's second round to head the field on eight under par, with Oliver Wilson and Rafa Cabrera Bello his nearest challengers at six under, and Lee Westwood well placed at five under following a solid 66.

But Els's near miss dominated the day.

'I started well and was three under through five holes,' he said. 'But then I lost the plot,' he added, referring to a stretch where he went six over in seven holes from the eighth.

'I don't know the last time I?ve done that. But then I played really good coming in. Obviously the pressure was on. I needed to make some birdies and thankfully I did that. So now I'm back to even par with 36 holes left. I need two 64s to stand a chance.'

Being back at square one for the tournament is an apt metaphor for Els's form at the moment.

'If I could string a whole round together it could be a low one. I don't know when that's going to happen, but I'll just keep going. I'm playing well but then the wheels come off. At the moment there's strange things happening with my game. I feel like I?m swinging well and doing everything well but the scores just don't want to come.

'I'll just keep plugging away and hopefully I'll get through this. It's very frustrating because you can play better and want to play better. Maybe I?m trying too hard. Sometimes then it goes the other way. It's just not happening at the moment.'

In contrast, Schwartzel can't put a foot wrong at the moment.

Schwartzel's two-stroke lead also puts him on course to realising his goal of making it into the top 50 on the world rankings before the end of the year, thereby qualifying for the 2007 Masters.

'If I can do that then I would've achieved everything I set for myself this year,' said Schwartzel, who is currently ranked 63rd in the world.

He started his round with four birdies in his first six holes, as he did in the first round. But he ended it with two drops in his final three holes.

'I started well but finished badly. After that start I thought I was in for a nice low round. But a 68 is no disgrace,' he said.

'But I'm swinging well and if I can keep my rhythm in tact I think I'll be in for a good weekend.'