WORLD number one Lee Westwood crashed out of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters yesterday as a player ranked 477 places below him became the shock leader.

Austrian Markus Brier, who had to return to the European Tour qualifying school last November, added a 66 to his 71 to reach halfway on seven under par in much less windy conditions than for the opening round.

The 42-year-old is one ahead of South African Darren Fichardt, winner of the title in 2003, but himself only 399th in the rankings after losing his tour card four seasons ago.

Westwood just failed with a 30- foot eagle attempt on the final hole and, with a 75, missed the cut by one on four over, while last week’s winner in Bahrain, Paul Casey, had the same score and bowed out by two. Westwood’s exit from the event in which he finished third last year followed a 64th-place finish in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago and it means he could be replaced as number one by Martin Kaymer this weekend.

For that to happen, though, the German needs a top-two finish in Doha and even after improving seven strokes on his opening 77, he made it into the closing 36 holes with nothing to spare and is still ten adrift of Brier.

Without a single top-20 finish on the circuit all last year, Brier came through the qualifying school by the skin of his teeth, but still needed a sponsor’s invitation for a place in this week’s field.

‘‘I’m very grateful and I hope I can make the most of it,’’ he said.

‘‘Last year I didn’t play well at all, but the game is still there.’’ His round was bogey-free, while Fichardt mixed eight birdies with four dropped shots for a 68.

Graeme Storm will be playing over the weekend after a second round 70. Thursday’s 75 was bettered with a two-under par round to leave him one over and comfortable in 33rd spot.

John Parry is on two over, and Ken Ferrie’s 69 put him a shot in front of Storm.

Defending champion Robert Karlsson (69) shares third place with Dane Thomas Bjorn, who shot a best-of-the-day 65, and England’s Richard Finch, whose 69 included an eagle two at the 16th.

First-round leader Retief Goosen was still setting the pace with two to play, but while Brier was closing with a 35-foot birdie putt he duffed a chip on the short 17th and double-bogeyed.

Leader Board

(Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72): 137 Markus Brier (Aut) 71 66 138 Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 70 68 139 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 70 69, Richard Finch 70 69, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 74 65 140 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 71 69, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 69 71, Paul Lawrie 74 66 141 Robert Rock 73 68 142 David Drysdale 71 71, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 73 69, Steven O’Hara 73 69, David Lynn 73 69, Victor Dubuisson (Fra) 74 68 143 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 77 66, Oliver Wilson 74 69, Ian Poulter 72 71, Bradley Dredge 72 71, Oliver Fisher 71 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 74 69, Seve Benson 71 72 144 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 71, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 73 71, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 74 70, David Howell 75 69, Mark Brown (Nzl) 75 69, Simon Dyson 72 72, Kenneth Ferrie 75 69, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 75 69, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 70 74, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 73 71, Mark Foster 73 71