EUROPEAN TOUR DUTCH OPEN:OVERNIGHT LEADER Graeme Storm retained top spot after the second day of the KLM Open but insists his focus at the moment is on the bigger picture rather than outright victory.
The 34-year-old is dangerously close to the cut-off mark in the Race to Dubai which would require him to go back to qualifying school.
There are still two months remaining before the end of the season but Storm knows a good finish at Hilversum will massively help his cause.
The Hartlepool golfer is 114th on the money list and probably needs to win another €100,000 to safeguard his playing rights and a top-three finish in the Netherlands could achieve that. Asked if his position in the Race to Dubai had been on his mind Storm replied: “Every day. It has been for the last three months. It is a big struggle missing so many cuts.”
Storm began the day with a two-shot advantage over Martin Kaymer, Fabrizio Zanotti and Raphael Jacquelin.
He returned a score of 66, his second bogey-free round to the tournament, to extend his lead to three over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Scotland’s Scott Jamieson and Sweden’s Peter Hanson.
“It makes a change to have all red on my card,” Storm, 41st in last week’s Omega European Masters, said.“Hopefully I used all the bogeys up last week in Crans and long may it continue.
Fernandez-Castano, the 2005 winner on this course, is looking to put the disappointment of failing to make the Ryder Cup team behind him. “My year has been disappointing to say the least. I didn’t play well over the summer,” the Spaniard, who shot a 65, said.
Jamieson raced into contention with a 64 yesterday, a score matched by Ireland’s Simon Thornton after he eagled the par-five last.
The rest of the Irish contingent fared pretty well as Damien McGrane shot a 67, Darren Clarke and Shane Lowry shot 68s, Paul McGinley and Peter Lawrie went around in 69 Gareth Maybin 71.
