Darren Clarke, yet to taste victory this season, opened up a three-stroke lead after packing seven birdies in a six-under-par 65 in the second round of the Scottish Open today.
The 37-year-old finished 11-under on 131, three ahead of South African Charl Schwartzel, Swede Johan Edfors and fellow Irishman Damien McGrane on another benign day at Loch Lomond..
Clarke has not finished higher than third in Europe this season, a result he achieved in the Nissan Irish Open at Carton House in May.
The Tyroneman played flawlessly on the front nine, picking up birdies at the third, sixth and ninth in ideal scoring conditions. He then made amends for a dropped shot at the 11th by birdieing the 10th, 14th, 15th and 17th.
"I hit it really nicely today and gave myself an awful lot of (birdie) chances," said Clarke after his round. "I had a lot of putts from the 10 to 12 feet range for birdies and unfortunately missed a few. But, overall, six-under is pretty good."
Earlier, Schwartzel maintained a South African tradition for excellence at this event. The 21-year-old raced home in 30 shots to fire a 66 in the final tournament in Europe ahead of next week's British Open at Hoylake.
Schwartzel, the second youngest South African to earn full membership of the European Tour after Dale Hayes, began his round in sedate fashion before his putter caught fire and he birdied the 12th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th.
Edfors, tied for the lead with Briton David Drysdale overnight, had five birdies and three bogeys in his 69.
McGrane hits five birdies in a row from the fourth to reache the turn in 31. A pair of bogeys and as many birdies on the inward nine saw the Meath man shoot 66.
South African Tim Clark is defending the title this week while compatriot Ernie Els won here in 2000 and 2003 and Retief Goosen emerged triumphant in 2001.
Clark was six-under together with Britons Lee Westwood and Raymond Russell, Argentina's Andres Romero, Gregory Havret of France and Dane Thomas Bjorn.
Romero carded a seven-under 64 after a purple patch in mid-round where he captured nine birdies in 11 holes, including six in a row from the fifth.
"It was obviously possible for a 60 or 59 but I got a bit nervous over the drive on 16 and dropped a shot there and another at 17," said the 25-year-old Argentine, no relation to 2002 Scottish Open winner Eduardo.
Paul McGinley added a 71 to his opening 69 to be two under for the tournament, one ahead of David Higgins, who shot 70.
Although Peter Lawrie shot 68 he was one shot the wrong side of the cut on level par. Graeme McDowell (73) was two shots worse on two over, Michael Hoey (75) on four over while Gary Murphy's pair of 75s left the Kilkenny golfer way off the pace on eight over.
Home favourite Colin Montgomerie burst out of the blocks with two birdies and an eagle in his first three holes as he carded a 66 for 138.
American veteran Hale Irwin, 61, followed his opening three-under 68 with a one-over 72. Scot Sam Torrance, 52, making a record 700th tour appearance, missed the cut (one-under) on 152, 10 over.
