SINGAPORE - Ian Poulter opened up a commanding five-stroke lead as the second round of the weather-interrupted Singapore Open was completed Saturday, with the Englishman hitting a rich vein of form.

Poulter, returning from a six-week break, only managed three holes of his second round on Friday but quickly picked up two shots to join overnight clubhouse leader Daniel Chopra of Sweden at seven-under-par.

Another five birdies rocketed him up the leaderboard and he goes into the third round firm favourite to clinch the title and propel himself up the Race to Dubai money-list.

Chopra remains second alongside Taiwan's Chan Yih-shin while South Africa's Ernie Els shot a 69 to be joint third, six behind Poulter in a pack that also includes England's Graeme McDowell and Japan's Kodai Ichihara.

World number two Phil Mickelson is struggling for consistency and lags 10 off the pace with Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee while three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington and Australia's Adam Scott made the cut by a shot.

But Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, fifth in the Race to Dubai, and Korea's K.J Choi, who won last weekend's Johor Open on the Asian Tour, missed out and will have the rest of the weekend off.

The tournament is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, with prize-money of five million dollars at stake.