Donaldson impresses after injury trouble

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, kept off the European tour for six months last year by serious back trouble, returned from another injury lay-off to grab a share of the halfway lead in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club near Dublin today.

The 29-year-old added a 70 to his opening 69 and will tee off in the last group with Dane Thomas Bjorn in the third round.

“I’ve looked forward to getting back in this position for a long time,” said Donaldson.

He was lying second in the Spanish Open last April when he had to pull out because of terrible back pains.

“It was a struggle to walk, let alone play,” he said. “If I hadn’t stopped then I don’t think I’d be playing now.”

He was referred to the London spine clinic and given a rehabilitation programme.

Given a special medical extension to his tour membership for 2005 he was eighth in the BMW Championship at Wentworth in June, but further problems led to him taking the last three weeks off.

“I’m going to get times when it flares up,” he said. “But the break’s made me hungry and it’s fantastic to be out in front like this. It’s what we play for.”

His round contained 16 pars and two birdies and he has had only one bogey so far in 36 holes.

“Nothing spectacular, just solid,” he described his play. “There are not many chances out there.”