Daly disqualified after throwing putter into water

John Daly made an unceremonious exit from the Australian PGA tournament here after throwing his putter into the lake on the 18th green and declining to sign his scorecard before officials were forced to disqualify him.

Daly, who is still mourning the death of his mother two weeks ago, had a tortuous day trying to avoid the cut. Scoring a triple bogey at the 13th, he began an argument with tournament officials which came to boiling point by the time he reached the final hole.

The unlucky 13th had seen the big American find the lake twice, including one shot that hit an officials' cart before rebounding into the water. After a series of heated arguments – none of which Daly won – his game went steadily downhill and, by the time he reached the 18th, the self destruction was almost complete.

Finishing nine over par, he shook hands with his playing partners Greg Norman and Craig Parry and stormed off to pack his bags. Australia's Jarrod Moseley ended the second day with a round of 66 giving him a one shot lead over his compatriot Aaron Baddeley with a 12-under 65.

In South Africa, Ernie Els eagled the par-four 17th and moved into the outright lead with a scintillating 65 on the second day of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City. His approach shot on the penultimate hole buried itself inside the cup without bouncing.

The eagle, the first in the tournament, was preceded by a sensational shot which gave Els a birdie on the 16th. Only a bogey on the 13th ruined what would otherwise have been a flawless round for the hometown favourite who starts today on nine under, one stroke better than Chris DiMarco, the joint overnight leader with Retief Goosen.

Colin Montgomerie tried to put a frustrating opening day behind him, after being given a shot penalty on the opening hole on Thursday. He was undone yesterday on the ninth when he sent his ball into the water, having to settle for a double bogey seven on the hole. He eventually came home strongly with birdies on 13, 15 and 16 to finish with a 69 and a two-round total of one under par.