McDowell hits top form

A RUN of form which came just too late to earn him a Ryder Cup debut took Ireland’s Graeme McDowell into the halfway lead at the Linde German Masters in Cologne yesterday.

While first round pacesetter Padraig Harrington fell away with a 75 and three members of next week's side Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley and Ian Poulter missed the halfway cut, the 25-year-old took advantage of calmer afternoon conditions to post a sparkling 64 and 11 under par halfway total of 131.

It included a 123-yard wedge into the 14th hole for an eagle two.