Bernhard Langer is on target for his 11th European Tour title on home soil in the German Masters in Cologne - and could pocket his own money into the bargain.

The German veteran, who co-promotes and stages the tournament with brother Erwin and has already won the event three times in its 14-year history, is on course to make it victory number four after a brilliant display in front of his home crowd.

The 44-year-old, two shots off the lead overnight after shooting an opening 67, added an eight under par 64 yesterday, just one shot outside the course record at Gut Larcenhof set by Rodger Davis in 1998.

Not even the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in nearby Cologne, that closed the autobahn and left players unable to get back to their hotel in the centre of the city, could spoil Langer's day as he showed the sort of form that earned him a place in the European Ryder Cup team for the 10th time.

At 13 under, Langer was two shots clear of Australian Stephen Leaney, Swede Fredrik Jacobson and England's Greg Owen, with Owen's compatriots David Lynn and Warren Bennett sharing fifth on 10 under par and Ireland's Darren Clarke a shot further back.

Owen was joint leader overnight and kept his nose in front for much of the second round as he went to the turn in 32.

But Langer refused to let him out of his sights and after going out in 33, rattled in five birdies in six holes from the turn to pull clear of the field.

Langer revealed afterwards he was suffering from a similar back strain to that plaguing Owen, but the problem clearly did not prevent him from playing at his best.

"My back was hurting a little bit I must admit, but I was stretching several times and it didn't affect me to the point where I couldn't swing and couldn't play," said Langer, whose victory in the Dutch Open earlier this season was his first since winning this title in 1997.

"I played quite well, obviously, and hit a lot of fairways and gave myself chances for birdies. The greens were very good this morning, the ball was rolling beautifully and it was just a matter of reading them correctly and getting the right pace."

The first prize of £278,000 would be £128,000 more than Langer's previous biggest European Tour prize in a career that has brought him 38 tour wins and more than 25 other titles, including the German National Open championship 12 times.

Owen, in contrast seeking his first tour title, added a 68 to his opening 65 and added: "It was nice to push it along a bit after yesterday.

"Okay, I've been overtaken but it's not because I haven't played well. I've played well, Bernhard's obviously played super, but we're up there and have to keep plodding away, make a few more birdies and see what happens."

Leaney would have enjoyed second place on his own if not for missing a three-foot putt for his only bogey of the day on the 16th, but the 32-year-old was happy just to be back in contention.

"The key was the putting," said Leaney who has won three times on the European Tour. "I think I've made more birdies in the last two days than in the last two months.

"My old "Bullseye" putter is back in the bag after being banished for four months and it's nice to be able to hole some putts again. I've not been playing badly but not finishing it off and it's nice to have two good scores back to back."

Clarke improved on yesterday's 68 by a shot to finish the day on nine under par, four shots off the pace, but was just one ahead of playing partner Retief Goosen, the man he is trying to overhaul at the top of the Order of Merit.

He could close the £426,240 gap between himself and the US Open champion significantly if he takes the £278,000 first prize tomorrow, but the South African made sure he kept Clarke within reach by closing with three straight birdies for a second consecutive 68 and is yet to drop a shot this week.

The cut fell at two under par and European number one Lee Westwood just scraped in right on the mark despite bogeying the last hole.

Colin Montgomerie had also been in danger of missing out for the second tournament in succession as he stood on the 15th tee one under par, the Scot making sure in style with three birdies in his last four holes.