Golf: Martin Kaymer on verge of European crown

Martin Kaymer looks set to be crowned Europe's new No 1 tomorrow, but his bid to become world number one as well is heading for a thrilling climax.

With Graeme McDowell dropping from 25th to 42nd with a second round 73 at the Dubai World Championship - he needs a top three finish to have any chance - Kaymer is cruising home in the money list race at the moment.

But the 25-year-old German might have to win the tournament to dethrone Lee Westwood at the head of the world rankings and at the halfway stage he is in fourth place and Westwood third.

A tightly-packed leaderboard sees their Ryder Cup teammates Ross Fisher and Ian Poulter setting the pace at nine under par, Poulter following a 66 and Fisher after a 64 that equalled the course record established by Westwood in winning the title last year.

Westwood had a 67 to be only one behind, while Kaymer's 70 left him two back along with Paul Casey - the man controversially left out of last month's win over the Americans - and Thai golfer Thongchai Jaidee.

When told of McDowell's position ten shots off the pace and eight shots behind him, Kaymer said: "He will find it difficult to win from there."

Fisher is looking to add the first prize of nearly 777,000 to his Irish Open win in August, while Poulter, of course, is trying to make it two victories in a row after his Hong Kong Open success last Sunday.

No player has won a European Tour event without a bogey since Jesper Parnevik at the 1995 Scandinavian Masters. Poulter's only two last year were in the final round and he has yet to have one here.

First round leader Robert Karlsson, meanwhile, had an even worse time than McDowell. A 75 dropped him all the way to joint 12th and he is now five behind.