WORKSOP'S Lee Westwood took command of the Maybank Malaysian Open, but only after Spain's Pablo Larrazabal survived the scariest moment of his career in Kuala Lumpur.
Westwood added a 66 to his opening 65 for a 13-under-par halfway total of 131, four shots ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Nicolas Colsaerts and Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines.
But the 40-year-old's superb performance was somewhat overshadowed by a bizarre incident involving Larrazabal, who shot a remarkable 68 despite having to dive into a lake after being attacked by hornets.
The incident happened on the fifth hole at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club – Larrazabal's 14th hole of the day – and after drying off and receiving treatment, the 30-year-old went on to birdie the par five and make another on the seventh.
But for Westwood, it was more good form in Asia, with 12 of the Englishman's 40 career wins coming on the continent and another one possibly looking on the cards.
A series of superb iron shots helped Westwood fire eight birdies from close range, with the only blemish a double bogey on the par-three 11th where his tee shot found water short of the green.
"I played well," said Westwood, who came seventh at last week's Masters, to Sky Sports.
"On the front nine I shot five under [for the second day running] and I think the longest putt I holed was from four feet on the first. It was solid stuff.
"I got a little unlucky at 11 I thought, it was one of the best shots I hit all day and the wind just gusted on me and it came up short in the water. But I rallied after that and ended up shooting 66."
Former world number one Westwood is currently ranked 36th after struggling to find top form following an unsuccessful spell with Tiger Woods' coach Sean Foley, but feels the work undertaken with new coach Mike Walker is paying off.
"I started with Mike six or seven weeks ago and I felt an almost immediate improvement on the range, but it was difficult to take it onto the golf course," Westwood added.
"But the last three weeks I have managed it. I played well in Houston, last week at the Masters I started playing a lot better and this week I am gradually grinding it back in.
"I have always played well in Asia, my strike rate is really good. It must be the heat or rice or something, I can't put my finger on it."
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