Thornton in touch as Dredge takes Munich lead

IRISH golf is set for a second week of success after Simon Thornton put himself in position for a first Tour victory by moving to 10-under par after two rounds of the BMW International Open in Munich.

Thornton, 33, carded a second straight 67 to trail just three strokes behind Welshman Bradley Dredge, who also signed for a five-under par score.

The former Royal Co. Down assistant pro had just one bogey and again benefitted from a ‘two thumb’ putting grip that saw him add an impressive 24 putts to Thursday’s tally of 25.

“This is my first taste of really in contention and I am looking forward to the weekend,” he said.

Peter Lawrie is next best of the Irish but carded a 73 to fall to five under par while reigning Irish Open champion Shane Lowry turned around a day one 74 to make the cut with a second round 66.

Lowry birdied three holes in succession from his 12th and then made sure of an eighth straight pay cheque this season with a birdie at the last.

However, missing the halfway cut were Paul McGinley (71), Darren Clarke (72), Michael Hoey (72), Damien McGrane (70) and Gary Murphy (75).

Welshman Bradley Dredge leads at the halfway stage – but star attractions Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia are already out of the event.

Dredge, still clinging to the hope that he might make the Ryder Cup on home soil in October, grabbed two eagles in a second round 67 which leaves him 13 under par and one ahead of Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal.

But fatigue appeared to catch up with Els, third in the US Open in California on Sunday, when he dropped three late shots and narrowly failed to grab the eagle he needed on the par five last.

Garcia was also at Pebble Beach, but there was far more behind his woeful performance than just jetlag.

Wearing the colours of the Spanish soccer team did nothing for the 30-year-old as his alarming slump continued.

For the first time as a professional Garcia has missed back-to-back cuts on European soil and his nine over 36-hole total after rounds of 77 and 76 was his worst on this side of the Atlantic since the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.

He was dead last there on 30 over after shocking rounds of 89 and 83, but his position on the easier Eichenried course was hardly any better. Only two of 154 players scored higher.

“That’s the way it is – I can’t do anything about it,” said the former world number two, who has already dropped to 36th in the rankings.

Els, who drove into the lake for a six on the 555-yard 11th and bogeyed the 14th and 16th as well, stated: “I just ran out of steam I think.”

Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the Scottish Open in a fortnight’s time, joining former Loch Lomond champions Ernie Els and Lee Westwood.

All three have cited tiredness but it has not stopped them from entering the two-day JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor earlier that week.