Lawrie remains in the mix as stars make exit

SEVERAL of the game’s finest made their exits from the European Open at the London Club yesterday as the little-known Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh tied for the lead on eight under par at the halfway stage.

None bowed out more spectacularly than Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, recent winner of the Players Championship in the US and currently ranked fifth in the world. He totalled an embarrassing 11 over par — 10 outside the mark — and was joined on the sidelines by Masters champion Angel Cabrera, who missed the cut for the second successive week, on three over.

Defending champion Ross Fisher was one of the many to run up a double bogey six at the 18th and he also bowed out on two over. His playing partner Sergio Garcia did likewise but at least he survived on even par. John Daly has also departed having finished two over.