Rose is seeking to overhaul Order of Merit leader Els

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
(GB & Ire unless stated)
-4 J Rose
Even P Harrington
+1 G McDowell, M Angel Jimenez (Spa), Kjeldsen (Den), J Randhawa (Ind)
Selected others
+2 P McGinley, S Dyson
+3 C Montgomerie

Justin Rose and Padraig Harrington boosted their European Order of Merit hopes with first and second place in the second round of the Volvo Masters.

Rose, currently third on the money list, took control with a best-of-the-day 68 and leads the Open champion by four at Valderrama.

Harrington, also needing a top three finish to overhaul current Order of Merit leader Ernie Els, hit 71.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (75) shares fourth one shot back.

He failed to repeat his opening round 68 as he moved to one-over par with Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, India's Jyoti Randhawa and Soren Kjeldsen from Denmark.

He's had a great year, but I think he's very hungry for a win Padraig Harrington on Justin Rose

Ireland's Paul McGinley was another shot behind with Englishman Simon Dyson and France's Raphael Jacquelin after he also slipped down the leaderboard with a four-over par 75.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie was on three over at the halfway mark of the tournament after carding 73.

Els has chosen to play in Singapore this week where no Order of Merit points are on offer.

Rose and Harrington, who both must finish at worst third in the event to go above table-topping Els, will go head-to-head for the second time in three days at Valderrama on Saturday.

606: DEBATE It would probably be best all round if Harrington wins it - at least he is also the Open Champion barrystar

And Harrington expects his rival, who has not won a trophy since the Australian Masters last December, to be a tough opponent.

"He's had a great year, but I think he's very hungry for a win," commented Harrington.

"Players are very much motivated by that. If he hasn't had a win he wants it all the more. That's our hunger."