Paul McGinley says playing golf in Australia is just like the conditions back home - all except for the weather. McGinley's steady finish to the year continued during yesterday's second round of the Australian Open in Sydney, where he was the early clubhouse leader, before finishing the day three shots off the halfway lead held by New Zealander Michael Campbell on 10-under-par 134.

"I've been playing steadily without scoring well, I've managed to score well over the last two days and that's been the difference," said McGinley, who was fifth behind Greg Norman in his other Australian Open appearance in 1996.

"I've made a lot of birdies, I've made three today, seven yesterday, 10 birdies."

McGinley is at ease on Australian courses, and says all bar the weather are reminiscent of what it's like playing at home. "I love playing in Australia, it's got to be my favourite country for playing golf," he said. "The conditions are very similar to Ireland, I know the weather's different, but the actual playing conditions are similar.

"You have wind here as you have in Ireland, the sand in the bunkers is very similar to Ireland, you don't have goofy grass as you do in Asian countries, it's ordinary bent grass which I'm used to in Ireland, and there are firm courses like the links courses back home."

McGinley had three birdies and a bogey in his outward nine holes yesterday and came home in par for his two-under 70 to go with his opening five-under par 67.

Campbell swept home birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie to edge out exciting 18-year-old local amateur Aaron Baddeley with a brilliant seven-under round of 65.

Campbell posted a 10-under 134 to lead Baddeley by a shot on nine-under 135 with locals Brendan Jones (66-70) and Nick O'Hern (68-68) joint third on eight-under 136.

Campbell also praised the outstanding performance of teenager Baddeley, who continues to showcase his outstanding talent in the midst celebrated company.

The halfway cut was made at one-over par 145.