Bennett's master stroke

WARREN BENNETT played his ''get out of jail free'' card to claim the halfway lead in the Volvo Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm.

Bennett carded a second round 70 at Kungsangen for a six under total of 136, one clear of first round leader Irishman Graeme McDowell, Swedish pair Carl Pettersson and Fredrik Andersson, former Ryder Cup player Ignacio Garrido and South African Trevor Immelman.

The injury-plagued 30-year-old admitted he needed a large slice of luck to be there however, after badly miscuing his drive on the 15th.

Going for the green on the 295-yard par four, Bennett's tee shot was heading for deep rough when it clattered into a tree and came down 30 yards short of the green, from where he pitched to two feet for an unlikely birdie.

''That was my get out of jail free card,'' said Bennett, who almost quit the game after a bout of pneumonia and neck injury the latest in a seemingly endless line of problems restricted him to just six starts in 2000.

''It was heading for the jungle, you'd rather be in the water than in there.''

That was the last of Bennett's three birdies, but on a day of high scoring in overcast and windy conditions, it was enough to put him in pole position for the £200,000 first prize and second tour title.

''It's great to be in contention again, the same old juices get flowing,'' added Bennett, who also had to withdraw from England's World Cup team in Japan late last year with an ankle injury.

''The greens are very severe with the slopes and they have tucked away the pins because the course is short (6,761 yards) and that's its defence. But there is a good score out there, I know I have to shoot a decent score tomorrow.''

McDowell was unable to reproduce the first round fireworks which saw him set a new course record of 64 at the club he has just agreed to represent on the European Tour.

But his round of 73 still left him just one off the lead in only his fourth event as a professional.

''It was difficult to get the right mindset,'' said the 23-year-old, who helped Great Britain and Ireland retain the Walker Cup for the first time last year and was ranked top collegiate golfer in America this season.

''I was being a bit protective even though you shouldn't be because there was still a long way to go.

''I got off to a good start with a birdie on the second but I hit a couple of poor shots and the course can come up and grab you sometimes.

''It was a tricky day, the wind was very strong sometimes, but I'm looking forward to the weekend.

Ireland's David Higgins was disqualified from the £1.3million event after walking off the course after nine holes of his second round.

The 29-year-old from Waterville was five over for the day and 10 over in total when he decided to call it a day, and faces a fine from tour officials if he fails to offer a satisfactory explanation.

It at least didn't distract his playing partners, Immelman carded a 67 to lie joint second and Worksop's Mark Foster a 68 to be a stroke further back.

Defending champion, Colin Montgomerie was surprised to find himself one of more than 20 players within three shots of the lead after adding a 69 to his opening 70.

''I can't believe the cut is over par, it seems crazy but it's the greens. They are not in the best of condition and it's difficult to hole putts on them,'' said the 39-year-old Scot. ''Rounds of 70, 69 is not very good but I'm in the top 15 and poised to challenge. ''If we just keep improving we will be okay. Today I played a lot better. I played the more difficult back nine in two under and the front, which is easy for us, in level which was a bit disappointing, but I am in there and a good round tomorrow will give me a chance of winning this.

''I haven't won for a year and I need to win. The game has not quite been as good as it was but you need to get fortunate. It's just a matter of being patient, but that's a horrible word and I'm not very good at it. I'm three behind and I've won from further behind than that.''