Seven birdies moved Green to the sharp end of the leader board at the Doha Golf Club alongside world number eight Goosen whose second round 68 (-4) keeps him on course for his first title of the year. The pair are being closely shadowed by another Australian left-hander Nick O?Hern whose second round 69 leaves him two shots adrift on nine-under-par (135).

'I birdied the second hole but then lost my concentration on the fifth and suddenly I wasn't making anything,' said Goosen. 'But there are 36 holes to be played and a lot can happen. I just need to get a good round in tomorrow and make a few putts.'

Goosen's fellow South African and world number five Ernie Els had a disappointing end to his round posting two bogeys in the last three holes to end the day with a 71 (-1) and lies seven shots off the pace.

'I hit a couple of shots I don't normally hit that were costly but I'll put that down to early season,' said Els. 'I played decent today but made a double bogey from nowhere on the 12th. I wasn't playing poor golf but a couple of loose shots hit hard? I still feel I'm striking the ball well.'

Elsewhere, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, former champion Paul Lawrie and China's Liang Wen-Chong are all tied on eight-under par, three shots behind Green and Goosen in fourth place.

For Lawrie, it's a welcome return to the business end of a tournament and the Scot will be hoping that a victory in Qatar will spark off a run to mirror that of his title winning year in 1999 ? following his Qatar Masters win eight years ago he followed it up with victory in The Open.

'I had two and a half months off in the winter and didn't play any golf at all so to come out and play pretty well last week and this is a big plus,' said Lawrie. 'If the wind keeps blowing and the greens stay grainy? well, I know what I am doing here and I?m looking forward to the challenge.'

While Green posted the round of the day, America's Chris DiMarco fired himself back into contention with a 66 (-6) to finish just six off the lead at the half-way point after a disappointing first round 73 (+1).

'This is a very good golf course and is every bit as good as the ones we play in the States as far as toughness,' said DiMarco. 'It's a good test and I've had a wonderful time here - the weather is good and the people are great. I think more Americans should play over here as it's good for golf.?

DiMarco?s words will have been welcome to the organisers and sponsors of a $2.2 million event that offers more world ranking points to the winner than the opening round of the 'Desert Swing' in Abu Dhabi last week.

Unfortunately, two players who won't be taking any of them home are Abu Dhabi champion Paul Casey and his fellow Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke who both missed the cut.

More information on the Commercialbank Qatar Masters 2007 is available at the official website www.qatar-masters.com