World number nine Henrik Stenson was today disqualified from the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship after losing count of how many shots he had taken.

Stenson was initially credited with a 12 on the par-five 17th at Gut Kaden, but was disqualified as he was not certain of his exact score and therefore unable to sign his scorecard.

The 31-year-old Swede, who had led the Order of Merit since February until Padraig Harrington's Open victory on Sunday, was already destined to miss the cut after a front nine of 40, although he ironically finished with a birdie three on the last.

"I ran out of putts," the Ryder Cup star said afterwards. "I missed a short one and then managed to double-hit it a couple of times in frustration.

"The day was pretty much over even before that. I was three or four over."

Asked if he knew how many shots he had taken, Stenson added: "No, that was the problem. I didn't sign my card because I couldn't figure it out."

Stenson was not the only one to run up a high score on a day of blustery winds and occasional downpours.

Overnight leader Simon Khan followed his opening 65 with an 80 to miss the cut - the first player to do so in two years on the European Tour - while in contrast South African Rory Sabbatini bounced back from a 78 with a 65 to make the cut.

Sabbatini, the world number 16, was 155th out of 156 players on Thursday evening but carded seven birdies in a flawless round, storming home in 31 to finish one-under-par.

English pair Zane Scotland and Lee Slattery share the halfway lead on nine-under-par after rounds of 68 and 69 respectively.

Andres Romero led for much of the day after he produced more of the erratic but exciting golf which almost brought him a shock Open victory last weekend.  He is second alongside England's Oliver Wilson on eight under.

Ireland's Damien McGrane is four-under-par after a 71, with Dubliner Peter Lawrie a shot further back thanks to a 69 that saw a second eagle on the third and a birdie on 15th. Paul McGinley is two under after a 70.

Gary Murphy is one under after a 73, while Graeme McDowell looks set to miss the cut by the thinnest of margins on level par.

Scotland finished 12th in the French Open earlier this month, boosting his career earnings from less than £6,000 to more than £50,000 and improving his world ranking from 764 to 437.

"It feels great," he added. "To be at the top of the leaderboard in a tournament like this is brilliant. The way the first two days have gone there's no reason why I can't carry on.

"I'm enjoying this little stretch and trying not to think about it too much, just enjoying being here."