Johnson is leading chase to catch runaway leader

World No 6 Feng added a seven-under-par 65 to her opening 66 to reach halfway at the Emirates on a superb 13 under par.

The first Chinese golfer to win a major – at the LPGA Championship in June – has England’s Felicity Johnson as her closest challenger.

Four players are one stroke further back and they include German Caroline Masson, who needs a top-three finish to have a chance of denying Spain’s Carlota Ciganda the Order of Merit crown. Ciganda matched Masson’s 68, however, to be only two shots behind her on six under.

Home favourite John Senden took a two-shot lead into day two of the Australian Open after a scorching opening round at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

Senden took advantage of benign morning conditions to shoot a six-under-par 66 that featured eight birdies.

The highest-ranked player in the field, England’s Justin Rose, leads the chasing pack in a five-way share of second on 68. Eight-time major winner Tom Watson carded a 78 that included six bogeys and two double bogeys.