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German Martin Kaymer seems to be wilting under the pressure of his first chance to claim golf’s number one world ranking, which Tiger Woods has held for over five years. Kaymer, who has won his last three 72-hole tournaments, needs at least a second-place finish at the Andalucia Masters to accomplish that goal, but halfway through the tournament, he’s 11 shots behind leader Graeme McDowell.

Northern Ireland’s McDowell (currently No. 13 in the world) was playing with Kaymer (currently No. 4) for the first two rounds, just eleven days after the 2010 Ryder Cup teammates and major winners finished tied for last at the 36-hole Grand Slam of Golf event in Bermuda. McDowell put up scores of 68 and 67 in his first two days at the Spanish tournament, while Kaymer struggled to 72/74, making bogeys on three of his last five holes in the second round to land in a tie for 38th.

McDowell is also chasing Kaymer for the European Tours final Road to Dubai money list. Kaymer began the tournament in first place with a sizable lead and €3,134,447 in earnings, while McDowell was in second at €2,138,866. After two rounds, McDowell has a two-shot lead over countryman Gareth Mabin (world No. 165). If McDowell hangs on to win the tournament, he’ll take home €500,000 and cut Kaymer’s lead by as much as half with four tournaments remaining in the Race.

Only thirteen golfers manage to get under par after the first 36 holes at the Andalucian Masters, and only four were within five shots of McDowell. Sweden’s Niclas Fasth (No. 256) was alone in third place at -3 after rounds of 73 and 66. Tied for fourth at -2 was another Ryder Cup player, Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiminez (No. 25) and England’s Cary Boyd (No. 116). Jiminez is currently eighth in the Race to Dubai standings with €1,692,501.

Assuming Kaymer doesn’t have an incredible weekend, England’s Lee Westwood will become World No. 1 on Monday. Westwood, who is not playing this weekend, is third in the Race to Dubai standings with €1,878,307.