'We are trying to land the ball on a dining room table from 230 yards'

The West Course was redesigned by Ernie Els in 2007, and Poulter skipped the tournament the following two years due to a dislike of the greens. Further criticism from players in 2010 forced additional changes to be made this year.

Poulter double-bogeyed the last in a three-over 74 to finish at level par yesterday, six shots off the pace, set by Luke Donald, Italian Matteo Manassero and big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.

"I don't like this golf course, period. End of story," Poulter said. "We are trying to land it on a dining room table from 230 yards out. You miss your target, yeah, I think it's a little unfair. I've walked off the golf course and I'm absolutely headless, absolutely fuming. It's now turning into a very, very difficult golf course and I've got to say, it's not fun golf."

Asked if he would play in the event next year, Poulter said: "Who knows? I don't know what I'm going to do. I've got no idea. I'll speak freely - many others may not."

Els defended the course as a major championship-style layout.

"Wentworth is now a fair and honest test of golf," he said. "I can understand people saying things in the heat of the moment. A guy comes off the 18th when he's just made double and he's going to be hot. I believe you will not find better surfaces to putt on anywhere in the world at the moment, but unfortunately you only hear the negative comments and very little positive. This course is by no means unfair. It was last year, but it is not this. It is a true test of the game."

Poulter's criticisms were shared by playing partner Paul Casey of England, who shot a 71 to be one over. "I think (owner] Richard Caring, from what I've heard, was perhaps wanting something like level par to win. Well he might get that but does that make it entertaining?" Casey said. "One of the beautiful things about Wentworth is always the great finish and the fact that guys could finish with maybe four threes (two birdies, two eagles] and shoot up that leaderboard. It's very, very difficult now."

Meanwhile, Donald rued missing the chance to turn the tournament into a one-man show. Two clear after a dazzling opening round of 64 England's world number two managed to add only a one over par 72 and now finds himself in a three-way tie at halfway. Alongside him on the six under mark of 136 are Manassero and Quiros, while world No?1 Lee Westwood is far from out of it after a 69 lifted him to one under.

"I didn't quite have the same control and I didn't expect to come out and play the same as I did yesterday," said Donald."It's very hard to replicate that and it was definitely tougher out there, but it was slightly disappointing that I didn't take advantage of some of the opportunities I had."

The 33-year-old, now effectively in a head-to-head with Westwood for the top spot on the rankings with Martin Kaymer down at three over, was not about to blame his demise on the new-look Surrey course, though.

Manassero continues to amaze. It is only 12 months ago that he made his professional debut, but he became the European Tour's youngest ever winner in October and last month held off Rory McIlroy to capture his second title.

Now he shares the lead in the circuit's flagship event - and if he wins it he could move as high as 15th in the world. He had his 18th birthday only six weeks ago. "I've never led such a big event and I will be nervous - but I will enjoy it," he said. "I will fight to keep the lead and it will be great experience for me."

It nearly went horribly wrong for him at the 539-yard last when he decided to go for the green in two, clipped a tree down the right and saw his ball roll towards the water on the left before stopping just short. He then got up and down for a birdie, while Quiros birdied the last three for his 67.

Thomas Aiken, winner of the Spanish Open the day after Seve Ballesteros died earlier this month, matched that score to move to four under on the day when nearly every player wore navy blue in memory of the former world No?1. It was 20 years to the day that Ballesteros won the event after a play-off with Colin Montgomerie. As for Montgomerie, he followed up his 69 with a 75 to drop to two over, but at least he is still in the tournament. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (12 over), Open winner Louis Oosthuizen (eight over) and Justin Rose (six over after a nine on the 17th) all missed the cut.

136 Matteo Manassero (Ita) 66 70, Luke Donald 64 72, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 67

138 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 71 67, David Horsey 70 68, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 68 70

139 Simon Dyson 71 68

140 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 70 70, Peter Whiteford 71 69, Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 71, Scott Jamieson 71 69

141 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 71 70, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 70 71, Anders Hansen (Den) 69 72, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 71 70, Darren Clarke 69 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 66 75, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 71 70, Lee Westwood 72 69

Others: 144 Colin Montgomerie 69 75