NICK Dougherty stormed towards the top of the Qatar Masters leaderboard yesterday - but insists winning is not a priority as he perfects his swing.

The Shaw Hill professional moved to within four shots of leader Johan Edfors after a superb five-under par second round, in which he dropped just one shot and finished with a run of three birdies.

It more than made up for the 25-year-old's lever-par opening round, when he made a double-bogey five at the first after hitting his tee shot up a tree.

"With the work I am doing on my swing at the moment, winning is not the priority but it would be nice to win along the way," said Dougherty, who finished fourth in Qatar in 2006 and joint second in 2002.

Fellow Englishman David Howell made a welcome return to form as the Ryder Cup winner "rode his luck" to card a second round four-under-par 68.

Sweden's Edfors sits at the top of the leaderboard at nine-under-par after carding a second round 66 to open up an advantage over Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Howell and Sweden's Alexander Noren, who recorded a second consecutive three-under 69 in tough blustery conditions at the Doha Golf Club.

Colin Montgomerie, who was delighted with his bogey-free 68, is a further shot adrift.

Howell, 32, began the day at two-under following a solid opening round 70, and shot up the leaderboard despite admitting he is still someway short of his best.

"I have got the most out of both days. I haven't driven it well for the last two days but the rest of my game has been in pretty decent shape," said Howell.