After finding a hazard and taking a penalty stroke, Singh recovered to end with a four-under round of 69, leaving him eight under for the tournament.

Trevor Immelman and Will MacKenzie were tied second, with Davis Love III, Chris Couch and JB Holmes two further behind. Four birdies helped Holmes to a round of 68, the joint best score of the day.

Stuart Appleby saw his hopes of winning the title for a fourth straight year take a battering after a round of 72 left him seven shots off the pace.

He said the blustery conditions were so poor that just standing up was difficult, let alone putting.

But Singh was more confident after a round featuring just one bogey, at the fourth, which was promptly redressed with an eagle at the next hole.

"I'm in control of my game, so looking forward to the weekend, although I would like to see the weather calm down a little bit, " he said.

"I'm swinging the club with a lot more control than last year. Winning won't be that difficult if I just keep doing that. I'm looking for a great season."