Goosen back on birdie trail after delay

Early-morning mist caused a 90-minute delay to the second round of the Lancome Trophy in Paris today.

Early-morning mist caused a 90-minute delay to the second round of the Lancome Trophy in Paris today.

Play started briefly but was quickly suspended as the mist followed the heavy rain that disrupted yesterday’s opening play.

Play resumed around 9.00 a.m. and fairer conditions are forecast for the rest of the day.

US Open champion Retief Goosen led after the opening round. He totalled nine birdies against two bogeys for a seven-under-par 64 on the par-71 St-Nom-La-Breteche course west of Paris.

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That left him two strokes clear of eight players who all posted five-under-par 66s. They were Scottish pair Andrew Coltart and Gary Orr, Steve Webster, Gary Emerson and Mark Roe of England, Mikael Lundberg of Sweden, Scott Gardiner of Australia and Jean Hugo of South Africa.

Among the tournament favourites, Spain's Sergio Garcia had a steady 68, made up of 15 pars and three birdies, but Scotland's Colin Montgomerie had a bad day - carding a four-over 75, which will leave him struggling to make the cut on Friday.

Goosen, the defending champion here and heading the European Order of Merit, opened his second round where he had left off by birdieing the 10th to go to eight-under for the tournament.

Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy withdrew from the tournament after shooting a disappointing 79 yesterday.