Golf: Kulacz creates desert storm with 11 birdies

The 24-year-old Perth native secured limited playing rights on the European Tour with a final round 64 at Q-School last year – a round he rates as his best ever given what was at stake – but was handed a spot in the field this week via a sponsors invite.

And the two-time winner on the Asian Tour took full advantage to charge up the leaderboard to 12-under-par and clear of Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Peter Hanson.

Kulacz said: "That round is definitely top five in my career. I think the one at Q-School was better under the circumstances; to get to Europe was pretty special."

Irish Open champion Lowry carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65, world number 13 Garcia dropped just one shot in a 67, while Sweden's Hanson went one better with a flawless five-under-par second round over The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Defending champion Paul Casey beat the cut with a second round 69 to advance to the weekend alongside Italian amateur Matteo Manassero after the British amateur winner crucially birdied the last to card a 72.

And Colin Montgomerie made it through with a second round of 68. But European No.1 Lee Westwood crashed out after his 78 which included six bogeys.