Thomas Bjorn, the last player to beat Tiger Woods, took over at the top in the Benson and Hedges International Open at The Belfry today.
The Dane almost certainly guaranteed himself a return to Ryder Cupaction in four months' time by adding a sparkling four-under-par 68 to his opening 69.
Having been two over par after 10 holes of his first round, Bjorn reached halfway on the seven-under-par total of 137, one ahead of a group thatincluded Europe's cup captain Sam Torrance.
The 47-year-old Scot appeared to have slipped back with bogeys on the 12th, 13th and 17th - he began on the back nine - but then came ahat-trick of birdies from the second for a round of 70.
Torrance’s playing partner and defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal, a man he badly wants in his team inSeptember, slipped back to two under with a 75.
Bernhard Langer, another Torrance would like to see play himself into the team,finished on three under after a 69 that promised more after he went to the turn in 32.
Alongside Torrance was South African Desvonde Botes, who reached eight-under himself before double-bogeying the last.
Overnight leaders PaulMcGinley and Henrik Stenson had still to resume on the same mark.
Padraig Harrington, the Irishman disqualified for a scorecard blunder last year when five clear with a round to go, set off again on four under, butthat became two when his pitch to the last spun back into the water. He double- bogeyed that, but recovered for a 72 and four-under total.
Darren Clarke is three-under and has yet to start his second round. PA