Golf: Liang the man to beat - Allenby

Robert Allenby of Australia plays a shot on the ninth fairway during day two of the 2010 Australian PGA. Photo / Getty Images

Robert Allenby moved to within striking distance of the leaders after the second round of the Australian PGA on Friday, then promptly declared China's Liang Wenchong as the man to beat.

Allenby was steady with a second round four-under 68 as he eyed a fifth Australian PGA title, five shots behind American leader Bobby Gates (64-69) at 11 under.

But it was Liang who impressed the Victorian most.

With sub-par rounds of 66-68 Liang was just a shot off the pace, joined by confident Queenslander John Senden (69-65) who has played at Coolum every year since 1992.

Allenby's opinion of Liang, who's picked up the nickname "Iceman" because of his unflappable demeanour, soared after the 32-year-old shot a course record third-round 64 in this year's US Open at Whistling Straits on the way to his top 10 finish.

"He's an awesome player," said Allenby.

"He's a nice guy, a super nice guy, a great player. He played really well on the OneAsia Tour and at Whistling Straits too.

"He is the man to beat I think. Nothing fazes him or doesn't seem to anyway.

"John Daly didn't put him off (with his 83) so that's pretty good."

A winner of 17 tournaments, Liang is so popular back home that a Chinese TV crew filmed his pro-am appearance at Coolum on Wednesday when he was wired up for comments during his round.

He had planned to take a month off but agreed to come to Australia for the Australian Open and PGA after repeated requests from officials keen to have China's No.1 player as a drawcard.

While officials will have one marquee player around on the weekend, they'll be without some others with Daly and Adam Scott crashing out.

A mix up with his putters contributed to Daly's undoing, an ugly second round 83 ensuring the two-time major winner wouldn't be playing on Saturday.

Daly's Coolum curse struck again when he arrived at the first tee with the wrong putter in his bag.

He sent his partner Anna Cladakis back to his room to get the right one but by the time she returned Daly had started his round.

He had 36 putts in his 11-over round which included a triple bogey, three doubles and three bogeys.

There was talk afterwards about a perceived lack of interest in lining up some putts and he could come under scrutiny of PGA Tour officials.

Adam Scott will also have the weekend off, the former world No.3 shooting a messy three over to miss the cut after shooting one over the card on Thursday.

Australian Open champion Geoff Ogilvy (70-69) was eight shots off the pace after a steady second round.

Meanwhile leader Gates said the 6.30am start was a shock to his system but he was happy with the solid way he finished, registering a 69 to hang onto the lead.

"It helps that I played well yesterday and that I hung in there today," said the powerfully built American.

"The winds were quite different, the greens are getting firm.

"I've gained a bit of confidence going into the weekend, and I've had the luxury of exploring the course and knowing where not to be."

- AAP