International Open: The capacity to sneak in under the radar can pay off. So, while many weary minds and bodies have placed nothing but the Ryder Cup on the agenda here at Eichenried, other players have been able to go about their tasks in the BMW International Open unburdened by the need to accumulate points and instead to focus on winning a title for that sake alone.

One of those to exercise such stealth yesterday was Damien McGrane, who refused to be thwarted by an early blip, a double bogey at his third hole, to compile a second round 68 for 137, seven-under.

It left him just two shots behind midway leader Martin Erlandsson, as the 35-year-old Meath man implemented his own strategy in pursuit of a maiden tour win.

To be sure, the permutations and possible machinations of the European team for the Ryder Cup at The K Club on September 22nd-24th, which will be decided at the conclusion of this €2 million tournament, have dominated proceedings here thus far.

But the picture is getting clearer, with none of the wild swings occurring so far and unlikely to do so.

And, despite Paul McGinley missing the cut, Colin Montgomerie's strong showing (he needs to finish tied-47th or better to move ahead of the absent Jose Maria Olazabal in the world points list and is tied-12th at halfway) would suggest the same 10 players who were in the automatic places coming in will remain there after the final acts tomorrow evening.

It would require a remarkable collapse from Montgomerie, combined with remarkable final two rounds from Johan Edfors and Paul Broadhurst, to effect any changes.

To all intents and purposes, McGinley - and, for that matter, Olazabal - would seem safe as far as qualifying for the team is concerned.

So, it would come down to captain Ian Woosnam to name his two wild card selections, and he can only have been impressed by the efforts of such players as Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn, both of whom are in contention in the tournament and, apparently, for the second captain's pick. The first, it would seem, is destined for Darren Clarke, who yesterday posted some comments on his website.

"I haven't neglected my golf totally during the enforced absence from the game and I've been hitting balls a bit and I'm already looking forward to returning to the game. Obviously, many people have been speculating about the Ryder Cup, but I don't think it would be fair or appropriate for me to join that debate at this time.

"The only thing I can confirm is that captain Ian Woosnam knows that if he thinks I would add something to his team then I will make myself available," said Clarke.

McGrane didn't have any thoughts on the Ryder Cup to occupy him as he came into the tournament, his first outing since a career-high third-place finish in last month's Dutch Open.

"It wasn't a distraction for me. Of course I want it to be a success, it means so much to every Irish person at this stage, but this tournament is an awful lot more important to some (seeking to qualify)," he said.

With no chance of playing in the Ryder Cup, the tournament has a different importance for McGrane.

First, he would dearly like to win a tournament; second, he would like to "nail down" his berth in the season-ending Volvo Masters, confined to the top-60 on the money list.

Yesterday, McGrane produced a 68 that included a double bogey six on the third where his drive finished in thick rough and he could only advance his second shot some 20 yards. He then three-putted.

Overall, though, it was a good day's work for McGrane who grabbed six birdies to move into a share of sixth alongside Luke Donald and Paul Casey.

Padraig Harrington was the only other Irish player to survive the cut, producing a second 70 for 140, four-under. It could have been even better, a number of birdie putts hitting the hole but refusing to drop.

"I created a lot of chances and was very comfortable hitting a lot of fairways (10 of 14) and keeping it in play and out of the heavy stuff," he said. "I am not swinging it anywhere as well as I was in the early part of the year.

"But I am on top of things and I will play these next two days and have a week's bit of work and then go play the Madrid Open as a warm-up for the Ryder Cup. I am happy that I am on top of things," said Harrington.