Westwood surges clear

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Lee Westwood continued his amazing form as he set up an 11-shot lead at the halfway point of the Thailand Golf Championship.

The Englishman, fresh from a win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge two weeks ago, carded an equal Asian Tour-record 12-under 60 in the opening round, and completed an eight-under 64 on Friday to move to a remarkable 20-under.

Westwood produced eight birdies on a windy day at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, and also struck an eight-foot par save on the ninth - his last hole.

Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and American Michael Thompson are a distant second at nine-under, while John Daly was unable to match his opening-round effort.

The American, a two-time major winner, hit a one-over 73 to drop back to fourth at six-under.

World number three Westwood was stunned he had broken so far clear of the pack.

"Outrageous isn't it? It's still a long way to go. But at the same time, I'm looking forward to the weekend," he said.

"I'm playing great and I'm feeling in total control - every aspect of my game feels good."

"I'll try to keep the lead irrelevant and keep on playing as I've been playing. The most satisfying shot of the day was making that eight or nine footer I holed at the last to keep the bogey off the card the last two days."

"I won two weeks ago at the Nedbank. I've got myself into a great position here. It would be nice to win four times in a year."

Among the chasing pack at five-under are six players - including Englishmen Miles Tunnicliff and Simon Dyson, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy, Indians Gaganjeet Bhullar and Jeev Mikha Singh and Japan's Kenichi Kuboya.

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