Smyth and Torrance thrilled to be in the hunt

DES SMYTH and Sam Torrance, who between them have walked something like 30,000 miles on the European tour, looked as fresh as daisies in Spain yesterday.

I t was no wonder either Smyth had a 63, the second lowest round of his 29-year career, and fellow 49-year-old Torrance a 66 to keep him on the high he has been enjoying since leading Europe to their famous Ryder Cup victory last month.

A 90-minute fog delay at the start of the day meant the second round of the Telefonica Madrid Open could not be completed before nightfall, but as it spilled into today Smyth was only a stroke behind his fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington and South African Trevor Immelman, with Torrance just two back.

Harrington shot a 66 of his own, and 22-year-old Immelman a 65 and Harrington is now four clear of Retief Goosen, whom he trails by £34,000 in the race to be Europe's number one this season.

But 1981 Ryder Cup team-mates Smyth and Torrance were thrilled to be in the hunt, the former in his 592nd event on the circuit and the latter in his 677th.

In March last year Smyth became the oldest-ever winner when he lifted the Madeira Island Open, but he has to go back 12 years to the one and only time he shot better than his 63.

''It's very exciting,'' he said. ''I love just breaking 70 these days. I always think I've had a successful day if I do that.''

He birdied seven of his last nine holes to come home in 29 and put it down to the fact that in two weeks' time he is playing in the US Seniors Tour qualifying school.

''I've got to go through regional qualifying first and I think there's an edge coming back into my game,'' said Smyth, who shares third place with Australian Adam Scott and Dutchman Maarten Lafeber, who has three holes to complete in the morning.

''There's only eight cards on offer, and it's a big challenge. I will have to play my best to get through it all.''

Torrance becomes eligible for the Seniors Tour next August, and his target before then is to take over from Smyth as the oldest-ever winner.

His own game took a back seat during the three years he was Europe's captain, but following the win he says: ''I'm certainly relaxed and I think we're all on a high. I hope it will last forever.

''I've shaken so many hands since The Belfry. My right hand's so strong it's scary. - I could beat Mike Tyson!''

Torrance birdied his last three holes to be alongside England's Miles Tunnicliff and Swede Marten Olander as they all pushed Lee Westwood down into ninth place, the former European number one able to follow up his opening 64 with only a 70.

After going to the turn in 31, Harrington - twice a winner on the course - moved three clear of the field and eight ahead of Goosen. But the South African then played the front nine in 31 for a 69, while Harrington bogeyed two of his last five holes.

''The one at the last came because I fell asleep,'' said the Dubliner. ''I was thinking about lunch or something. I thought my day's work was over, and it wasn't.

''I was not looking at what Retief was doing. It's hard enough to control what I am doing.

''But overall I'm happy. I'm leading, and you are always going to hit some bad shots.''