Fisher reels in halfway lead

Monty and Poulter move into contention

Last updated: 5th July 2008

ross fisher

Fisher: closing birdie

European Open
Second round leaders
GB&Ire unless stated
-13 R Fisher
-12 G McDowell
-9 S Garcia (Spn)
-8 S Hansen (Den)

Also see

England's Ross Fisher rolled in a six-foot birdie putt on the final green to move one shot clear at the top of the leaderboard in the European Open at the London Club.

Fisher - who led by two following an opening course-record 63 - was caught by Graeme McDowell after the Northern Irishman added a 67 to his opening 65.

The pair were tied at 12-under-par but the 27-year-old Fisher bounced back from a bogey at 16 to retain the lead at the halfway stage.

After completing his 68, Fisher said: "My game didn't feel quite as sharp as it did yesterday but I'm pretty pleased to be leading. Yesterday everything went in. I took 23 putts, holed a bunker shot and holed a putt from off the green. It was always going to be difficult to repeat that.

Pleased

"After a 63 you just want to show people that it wasn't a fluke and I'm pretty pleased with that.

"I didn't feel entirely comfortable with my swing, but I almost felt - it almost sounds funny - I was in the zone a little bit. I was just walking around with a tremendous amount of calmness and peacefulness in myself.

"You've got loads of superstars this week and it gives you a tremendous amount of confidence beating so many of the top boys. We'll see what happens come Sunday."

Spain's Sergio Garcia - in his first outing on European soil this season - moved through the field with a best-of-the-day 64 to lie in third place, four shots adrift of Fisher.

But veteran David Frost - who started the day in a tie for second alongside McDowell - had to settle for a level par 72. He is at seven-under in a group of five players that includes Ryder Cup stars Colin Montgomerie and Ian Poulter.

Defending champion Montgomerie shot a 67 that included seven birdies as well as a couple of clutch par putts of more than 10 feet. Poulter also shot a 67 that included a holed bunker shot for a birdie at the short 11th and a missed par putt from five feet at the last.

The 67 was Montgomerie's 10th successive round under par and his lowest in Europe since the closing 65 which helped earn him this title at The K Club in Ireland 12 months ago.

Open spot

His Ryder Cup teammate Paul McGinley is also on seven-under after a 68. A top five finish on Sunday for the Dubliner could secure him an Open spot.

But for Darren Clarke that objective has gone. He missed the cut for a second week running, then was disqualified for signing for a par four on the last when he actually bogeyed it.

His only way to Birkdale now is to be in the top five at Loch Lomond next week. Open champion Padraig Harrington had a 70 that included an eagle three at 15, but at two under is well adrift heading into the weekend.