Paul Lawrie is primed to mount a challenge for the British Masters title after a spirited second round performance at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield.
The Aberdonian led the tournament at different stages yesterday before dropping back into the pack on the heels of defending champion Lee Westwood.
Lawrie, who was three under after his opening round, dropped a shot at the 18th yesterday to finish with a one-under-par 71.
At four under for the tournament he is just two shots adrift of Westwood, who admits he may not last the pace this weekend following his Ryder Cup efforts.
Westwood, who mixed two birdies with three bogeys in his first five holes before recovering with a hat-trick of birdies at the start of the front nine, said: “I would hope to play better in the third round.
“I made a big effort and my scrambling was good. I’ve worked hard on my short game and when I’m feeling a bit lethargic it can get me out of a bit of trouble.”
In his own words, Westwood was “shattered” and “running on empty” – but it did not ruin his hopes of making a successful defence of the title. He added a 70 to his opening 68 for a six-under-par total of 138.
Westwood will not know until today where his score leaves him at halfway as the hold-up at the start of the day due to mist prevented the second round being completed.
Westwood led in the clubhouse by one from Scotland’s Marc Warren, Spaniard Alejandro Canizares and Thai Thongchai Jaidee.
Among those still to complete their second rounds, however, was Jeev Milkha Singh, also six under with six holes to go after becoming the third player in the day to have a hole in one.
Like England’s Phillip Archer, the Indian aced the 177yd seventh, while Spaniard Alvaro Quiros sank his tee shot to the 208yd 12th.
All three were given a magnum of champagne, but tomorrow nearest the pin at the 12th wins a Jaguar car.
Colin Montgomerie improved 12 strokes on his opening 81, but on six over was looking at his seventh missed cut of the season. Darren Clarke is heading for an early exit as well at seven over with seven to play.
One of only two members of last week’s beaten Ryder Cup team playing in the event – Graeme McDowell is the other and after a tired-looking 75 for three over he had to wait until this morning to discover whether he had made the cut – Westwood has a great opportunity to close in on Padraig Harrington at the top of the European Tour Order of Merit.