Fisher fails to fire

Needing to finish first or second to have any hope of capturing the European Tour money list title, World Match Play champion Fisher was down in 40th position after a disappointing opening round of 73.

And he dropped three further places by remaining one over par after nine more holes.

Two days before his 29th birthday, Fisher pulled his approach to the short fourth into a bunker and failed to get up and down.

He did then birdie the long seventh, but with fellow Englishman Robert Rock going to the turn in a four-under 32 and Frenchman Thomas Levet picking up four birdies in the first eight, Fisher knew he had to play the back nine much better.

Out in front on seven under was Australian Robert Allenby and with the leaders out last from the second round onwards, he did not resume until 12.40pm local time.

Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy, paired with Swede Johan Edfors at midday, was in a tie for fifth, but that was not good enough to make him the youngest Tour number one since Seve Ballesteros in 1976 with Lee Westwood in a tie for second.

German Martin Kaymer was the other player in the hunt. He required a top-four finish to be in with a shout of overhauling McIlroy and Westwood and, after a birdie on the long second, improved to joint 15th on two under.

Ian Poulter, who could move up to world number five by winning on Sunday, drove under a bush on the first - as did Fisher on Thursday - and with a double-bogey six slumped to level par.