- In his debut at this tournament, Marcel Siem was betrayed by a lack of local knowledge yesterday when he fired his approach to the final green into a creek he did not realise was there. The German would have broken the course record with a birdie at 18. He made a bogey six instead to sign for 65. "It was not an excuse, but if I'd have known the water was on the left, the miss is on the right," Siem said. "It's a stupid rookie mistake – should have done my homework."
- A redraw after each day's play means good play equals more time in bed. On his past trips to the Earth Course, Danny Willet has had to be up with the larks. The fact the alarm calls have been later this time shows his game is in good working order. "If you play well you get a lie in," Willet said after his 65 yesterday. "My alarm clock has been set for half past four for seven of the eight rounds" previous to this year. "Should improve tomorrow."
- After a second round at Jumeirah Golf Estates, Ian Poulter took time out to shoot a sound-bite on the neighbouring Fire Course. The purpose was to thank supporters who had voted for him to win an award, but he kept stumbling over the exact phrasing. He had been named golfing "Hero of the Year", but unconsciously kept substituting "player" for "hero". It was not clear whether it was modesty or ambition that was causing the blind spot.
- Joel Sjoholm, the extrovert Swede, has not let the fact he missed the cut for this tournament ruin his fun. Sjoholm finished 66th in the Race to Dubai – thus missing out on this event. He has been a vivid presence, though, first as a caddie for his compatriot Alex Noren in the pro-am, then as a guest pundit on Dubai radio. And he clearly has the wardrobe for radio: yesterday he was back wearing trademark plus fours, but the colour was toned down to grey.
- Henrik Stenson relocated to Florida from Dubai only in February, but he already seems to have lost the number of the local creche. After his round yesterday, the resurgent Swede was briefly overrun by a group of five children beside the practice putting green, while his wife Emma took a telephone call. Home comforts are still counting for something for the former Meadows resident, though. Stenson shot a second successive 68, meaning he starts today within striking distance of the leaders.
- It was another day of low scoring, but the consensus among the players was that the generous layout makes for happy golfers. Richie Ramsay, who finished at nine-under par, suggested the scores had been misleading anyway. "I don't think it is as easy as the scoring suggests, but players are just playing well," Ramsay said.
