Golf:An in-form Ermie Els formed part of a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard after the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Country Club in Florida.
Els, who returned to winning ways at the WGC-CA Championship win at Blue Monster in Doral a fortnight ago, was joined in a share of the lead by American trio, Davis Love III (71), DJ Trahan (68) and Ben Curtis (67).
Els shot a three under par 69 for his share of the lead on seven under, one shot ahead of the chasing pack that includes Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen, who both carded 67s. Mickelson’s round featured an eagle on the par-four eighth.
Graeme McDowell endured one of those frustrating rounds where birdies came freely, but so too did the bogeys
The 30-year-old picked up three birdies in his opening seven holes - second, sixth and seventh - but dropped shots quickly followed at the eighth and ninth.
The Portrush professional eventually strung four pars together from the 10th before a third bogey at the 14th was followed by another birdie at 16.
That left McDowell on two under, five off the clubhouse lead.