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WENTWORTH, England : Paul McGinley's flying start to the BMW PGA Championships continued when the Irishman's second round of 66 took him to a record 13 under par, four strokes clear of Robert Karlsson of Sweden, here Friday.
The Irishman's total of 131 for two rounds is a record low score for 36 holes in the BMW PGA event, beating the 12 under record of Ernie Els, set in 1994.
But while McGinley made the most of his rich vein of form, a forlorn Els exited the West Course without a word, knowing that his second round 73, leaving him four over par, would ensure that he missed the cut in the BMW PGA Championship for the first time since 1992.
Els was not the only big name to tumble out of the tournament, with Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, South African Richard Sterne, Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Jean Van de Velde of France, Dane Thomas Bjorn, and McGinley's compatriot, Darren Clarke, among those missing the cut.
McGinley's second round came to life when he took just 31 strokes to cover the back nine, with four birdies and an eagle on the last hole lifting him clear of his rivals.
"I'm more than pleased," he said. "I played a great back nine and holed some great putts. It was a great finish to my round."
But McGinley refused to speculate on his chances of final victory.
"Things are looking good but I have been in this game long enough to know that there's two hard days ahead of me," he said. "It's a long week. It's a marathon and we're only halfway through."
Even so, Karlsson, on nine under McGinley's closest rival, may now be wondering if the Irishman can be caught. The Swede surged to the top of the leader board at lunchtime, only to watch McGinley recapture the initiative in the afternoon.
The 39-year-old Karlsson followed up his first round 66 with another strong performance, scoring five birdies in his 69, including three consecutive birdies in the final three holes.
"I hit three good approaches and had virtual tap-ins on the final three holes," he said.
"The conditions were different today. In fact, it was a bit easier, because yesterday was really bouncy and today the greens were a bit wetter, so they held the ball up more."
Also on nine under was Miles Tunnicliff, of England, whose 65 equalled McGinley's new course record.
"It's taken me a while to get used to this course, but today I managed to work it out and holed a few putts," he said.
"It's probably one of the best rounds of my career."
A shot further back was 27-year-old Englishman, Oliver Wilson, after a second round 66, that included an eagle and four birdies.
Wilson was joined on eight under, late in the afternoon, by Dane Soren Kjeldsen, after he also carded a 65, which included eight birdies.
But Wilson's compatriot Lee Westwood, currently third in the European Tour order of merit, had differing fortunes, when he was forced to retire feeling unwell after six holes of his second round.
Westwood, who had slumped to seven over by the time he called it quits, said: "I had a Chinese meal last night, but I don't think it's something I ate because I've got a bit of a sore throat as well as feeling rough.
"I think it's a virus of some sort. It started about eight last night and I was sick during the night and hardly got any sleep."
While Westwood headed back to his hotel room, fellow Ryder Cup luminary Montgomerie was as wayward in his second round 75 as he was in his first round.
But Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo has backed Montgomerie to recover his form in time for the clash with the Americans in Kentucky in September. However, that was of little consolation to the Scot.
"That's the furthest thing from my mind," he snapped when asked if Faldo's words had been encouraging.
"I just didn't play well enough. It's one of those things - you get what you deserve in this game. End of story. I was not encouraged by anything today."
Last season's European number one Justin Rose was another big name heading home after a 73 left him on five over.
"This is the game of golf," he said. "You've seen it thousands of times that players go through downs and this is a bit of a down for me right now.
"Anything working on the range is not translating to the course and it's frustrating whichever you look at it, but something will click and I'll get my confidence going."
- AFP /ls
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