Confident Lee Westwood last night threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field by declaring the Compaq European Grand Prix was his for the taking.

Westwood carded a brilliant, second consecutive 68 at windswept Slaley Hall for a halfway total of eight under par and a three-shot lead over Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson.

Jacobson was one of only three players to break par yesterday as gusting winds up to 40 m.p.h. buffeted the Northumberland course, sending scores soaring and threatening to embarrass some of Europe's finest.

Former English amateur champion Russell Claydon slumped to an 89 for a halfway total of 23 over par, Gordon Brand Jnr called a penalty shot on himself when his ball moved as he addressed a putt, and Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart came home in 45 after nine pars on his front nine.

But the 27-year-old from Worksop found it was just the wake-up call he needed after complaining of jet-lag earlier in the week following his return from the US Open at Pebble Beach where he finished fifth.

The world number nine came home in 31 with three birdies and an eagle - holing a sand wedge approach from 78 yards on the 12th - and was in bullish mood.

"I would hope to win from here," said Westwood who would move to second in the Order of Merit with the £108,000 first prize. "I'm three shots clear of the field and I normally take a bit of catching when I'm ahead.

"I'm very happy with the position I'm in and I'd rather be leading than chasing.

"I thought before I went out if I could just keep it at four under I'd be quite happy but I holed a good putt on the 10th, had a bit of luck and held it together well. I was quite pleased with myself.

"Playing last week sharpened up my scoring and it's kept me going this week."

Westwood's upbeat mood was all a far cry from his demeanour just over a month ago when he despaired over his form.

"Having gone through a good patch has done me good, it makes you appreciate the good times," he added.

Westwood was three ahead of Jacobson who compiled a brilliant round of 70 in the strongest winds of the morning.

The 25-year-old Monaco-based Swede equalled the European Tour's modern-day record for the lowest number of putts - matching Sam Torrance's total of 20 from the first round - chipping in on the second and holing a bunker shot on the fourth for a par after a penalty shot.

"I don't know if it's the toughest conditions I've played in but add a bit of rain and it would have been!" Jacobson said. "If there was much more wind you couldn't play because the ball would start moving on the green.

Jacobson, who finished third in the Wales Open at Celtic Manor, has led previously at the halfway stage in the Belgacom Open in 1998 but was pipped to the title by a certain Lee Westwood in a play-off.

Belgian player Nicolas Vanhootegem was third on three under after an excellent 71 while Darren Clarke carded a 75 to be level par and first round leader Sam Torrance was one over after a 79.

British Open champion Paul Lawrie scraped into the weekend right on the cut mark of eight over par but was happy simply to have completed two rounds on his return from a groin injury that sidelined him for almost a month.

Gary Murphy and Philip Walton both failed to make the last two rounds. Walton, who lost his tour card last year, went out in 47 - 11 over par - before retiring. He had hoped to get the best of the weather when he teed off early but instead was greeted by gusting high winds over 30 m.p.h. that saw the scoreboard turn blue with a sea of over-par figures. Murphy was also knocked off course in the strong wind to record a second round 84 that left him four shot outside the cut.