CAPE TOWN, Dec 7: U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen admitted he was tired after a long season as he battled gamely to stay within three strokes of the lead in the second round of the Players’ Championship Friday.

Goosen carded a 66 at the Royal Cape Golf Club to lift him to nine-under par 135 behind leader Alan McLean, who signed for a course record 64 to head the field on 132.

But the world number nine said his mind was drifting more and more towards a well-earned break after the tournament.

“I think the holiday swing is setting in,” Goosen said after a round of four birdies and an eagle.

“I’m getting a bit frustrated out there when I hit shots and they don’t come off like I want them to. I’m just a bit tired and I’m glad there are only two rounds left for me this year.

Goosen took advantage of a windless morning at Royal Cape to shift himself into a promising position for the weekend.

“I probably played worse for my 66 than I did for my 69 in the first round and I felt the round could have been better,” he said.

“On the first nine I only hit three greens in regulation. But the course was set up a bit tougher. There were some tight pin placements out there, especially over the final five holes.”

McLean’s 64 was achieved in the more windy afternoon conditions and signals a welcome return to form for the Cape golfer, who has just come off a gruelling year on the European Challenge Tour.

“I had a tough year to be honest,” McLean said on the back of his eagle, seven birdies and a bogey.

“I took some time off at the beginning and tried to make a swing change, and when I went back out onto the European Challenge Tour, my mind was going crazy and my confidence took a knock.

“I think I hit rock bottom around July. But things have gradually got better since then. When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up.

“I’ve never practised as hard as I did this year. When it gets between your ears, golf is a difficult game. And that’s what I allowed to happen.”

Ernie Els reached the halfway stage six shots off the pace on 138 following a 68, which featured a double-bogey at the par-three 15th.

PGA Tour campaigner Rory Sabbatini missed the cut in what is his first tournament on home soil.

Sabbatini carded a second round 78 to miss the level-par cut by seven strokes.

Leading second round scores

132 Alan McLean 68 64

133 Des Terblanche 67 66

134 Bradford Vaughan 68 66, Jean Hugo 68 66, Martin Maritz 67 67

135 Retief Goosen 69 66

136 Omar Sandys 66 70

137 Stephen Browne (Ireland) 67 70, Doug McGuigan 70 67, Titch Moore 67 70, Callie Swart 68 69 138 Dean Lambert 68 70, Warren Abery 70 68, Trevor Immelman 69 69, Marc Cayeux (Zimbabwe) 65 73, Henk Alberts 66 72, Ernie Els 70 68, Deane Pappas 71 67, Josef Fourie 67 71

139 Justin Hobday 71 68, Jesper Nielsen (Denmark) 72 67, Ian Palmer 69 70—Reuters