McDowell and Price go clear at Woburn
The duo are one shot clear of Patrick Sjoland as several of the 2004 European Ryder Cup team, including Colin Montgomerie, failed to make the cut. Pádraig Harrington and David Howell are the only Ryder Cup men left.
Seven of the 12 Detroit heroes entered the £1.3million tournament originally, but Paul McGinley, Paul Casey and Thomas Levet pulled out before the start and they were joined on the sidelines last night Montgomerie and Ian Poulter both missed the cut on four over par.
Both will now miss next week's £3.7million American Express World Championship at Mount Juliet s a result.
The top 20 on the European Order of Merit qualify for that event - first prize £635,000 and guaranteed last place money around £15,000 - but Poulter came into this week 21st and Montgomerie 23rd. The only way they can go now is down.
Howell, who on Wednesday was wondering why he was not taking this week off, stands three under par with 36 holes to go, but Harrington, who won seven days after The Belfry victory two years ago, is unlikely to repeat that. He stands one under. Eight ahead of him and joint leaders are Graeme McDowell and Welshman Phillip Price.
A star, of course, of the last Ryder Cup for his vital singles win over Phil Mickelson, Price is having a disappointing season, down from 10th on the money list to 56th. He will not be part of next week's elite field even if he wins on Sunday.
McDowell, on the other hand, is up from 96th to ninth and could go sixth by landing the £226,436 winner's cheque on Sunday.
An even bigger amount slipped from his grasp at the German Masters two weeks ago. He led by five with 17 holes to play, but collapsed to a 77 and finished joint third.
The 25-year-old from Portrush, a team-mate of Luke Donald's at the 2001 Walker Cup, closed with two birdies for a 68 today just after Price's birdie-birdie-eagle finish had given him a 67.
"Cologne was probably one of the low points of the year - a big blow - but I've moved on very quickly from it," commented McDowell.
"I led the tournament for three and a half rounds against a world-class field and I had a lot of positives to take away from it.
"I played great golf and I've continued where I left off. I really do feel I've turned the corner from the player who used to worry about missing cuts and all that jazz.
"I've moved onto the next level where teeing up on Thursday I'm trying to put myself into a position of winning. Any time you aim high you will hopefully achieve, but any time you set your sights low you're going to come a cropper."
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