GOLF/WALES OPEN:WORLD NUMBER five Graeme McDowell continued his love affair with Celtic Manor yesterday, booming out one of the longest drives of his career as he moved within one shot of the Wales Open second-round lead.
A three-under-par 68 gave the defending champion a seven-under total of 135 at the venue for last year’s Ryder Cup, one behind Alexander Noren of Sweden (67).
McDowell cracked a 385-yard drive at the 18th hole to set up his fifth birdie of the day.
“I can’t remember hitting the ball any longer than that,” said McDowell at the course where he recorded the winning Ryder Cup point for Europe in October.
Last year McDowell was six shots off the Wales Open pace going into the weekend but then carded rounds of 64 and 63 to storm to victory by three strokes.
Brimming with confidence from his win in Wales, the Northern Irishman went on to claim his first major title in the US Open at Pebble Beach.
“All I want to do this weekend is get into the mix and get some juices flowing, put the game under a bit of pressure,” said McDowell who fashioned his round on four birdies in five holes around the turn.
“Then I’ll take some great positives away with me for this month’s US Open).”
Noren, the 2009 European Masters winner, also claimed four birdies in five holes with his run starting at the 14th.
The 28-year-old Swede said he had drastically reduced his practice this week.
“I love practising and it hurts not going to the range but after the PGA Championship last week, 36 holes for US Open qualifying on Monday and 36 to come next Monday for British Open qualifying I feel I should be relaxing and doing all my work on the course,” said Noren.
In joint third place on 136 were Briton Jamie Donaldson (68) and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (69).
McDowell’s Ryder Cup team mate Peter Hanson of Sweden was among a trio of players three strokes off the lead that included 50-year-old Briton Barry Lane and overnight leader Keith Horne of South Africa.
But Colin Montgomerie now has another memory of Celtic Manor to add to last year’s Ryder Cup – his worst 36-hole score on European soil for more than 20 years.
Montgomerie followed up his opening 78 with a 79 and had no doubt what the biggest problem was – his age.
“I’m not 25 any more,” said the Scot, who in less than three weeks turns 48.
“I think it does show sometimes. It’s good being busy, but it takes its toll trying to compete against guys less than half my age only doing this. Playing well last week (his seventh place at Wentworth was his first top 10 for almost three years) I thought I could perform well again.
“But I just played awful. I’m very disappointed not to be playing at the weekend, never mind contending.”
The last time Montgomerie had two higher opening scores in Europe was the 1991 Benson and Hedges International at St Mellion. He shot 80-81 there.
Montgomerie failed to make it through a 36-hole US Open qualifying event on Monday and faces the same thing at Sunningdale this coming Monday to try to earn a place in next month’s Open.
Of the other Irish contenders, Damien McGrane slipped back to joint-15th place following a 73 for a two-under tally of 150. Michael Hoey is at level par following a second successive 71 and the latter is joined on that total by Darren Clarke who who shot a 74 yesterday. Shane Lowry (73) on two over and Colm Moriarty, five over following a second round 75, both missed the cut.
