Golf - Madrid Masters update:Graeme McDowell did his best to hang onto Luke Donald's coattails as last week's PGA Championship runner-up made all the running approaching the midpoint of the Madrid Masters.
The English golfer added a 67 to his opening 65 for a 12 under 132 aggregate to be four ahead of McDowell, who carded a second consecutive 68. Joint Welsh overnight leaders, Rhys Davies (68) and Jamie Donaldson (70), remained ahead of McDowell to be 11 and nine under respectively.
Donald made most progress on the back nine where he picked up five birdies, whereas the front side was played in level as two birdies were offset by as many bogeys.
“I’m in a great position,” said Donald. “The two bogeys were not really bad shots and it feels like I have a little better control with my irons this week.”
There was disappointment for Donald’s playing partner Sergio Garcia, who has the weekend off instead of competing for honours in front of his home crowd.
The Spaniard’s last missed cut in Europe was the 2004 British Open at Royal Troon, but after starting his round with a double-bogey seven he managed only a 73 and bowed out on one over.
He hit the perfect drive down the long 10th, but his second shot sailed out to the right and did not come close to carrying the lake.
Garcia, clearly deflated, took a penalty drop and hit an equally poor fourth stroke which did at least make it over the water, but was way wide of the green. And from there he took three more.
The 30-year-old, who has dropped from second in the world to 32nd after nearly 18 months without a top-three finish, came back with six birdies, but there were also five bogeys.
“Nobody likes to miss a cut, in front of your home crowd even more,” said Garcia. “It’s disappointing, but it is what it is. I’m just not playing well enough. It’s as simple as that.
“It’s the way it is at the moment. Hopefully it will turn around and it’s just a matter of seeing how long it will take.
“We’ve all been in these stretches, but it’s hard because when you know your potential and you feel you can’t achieve it it’s difficult.”
His next start is the US Open at Pebble Beach next month and when asked if it might inspire him, he replied: “Hopefully, but I can’t see the future.”
In contrast to Garcia’s poor start, McDowell opened with an eagle three after holing out with a 113-yard pitch on the 10th. His round also contained five birdies and three dropped shots.
Paul McGinley, one shot off the first round lead, dropped back to four under after a disappointing 74. His front nine was bookended with bogeys and a solitary birdie at the fifth and the back nine didn't get any easier.
Peter Lawrie joined McGinley on four under after a 69, while Damien McGrane was two under after shooting 73. Shane Lowry (74) was the only other Irish survivor into the weekend on the one under cut mark.
Gary Murphy’s second 73 of the week means the Kilkenny pro will have the weekend off, so too will Simon Thornton (71), who finished four over.