Murphy's Irish Open: Magic touch deserts Montgomerie

Colin Montgomerie failed to pick up where he left off when the Murphy's Irish Open second round began at Fota Island near Cork.

Montgomerie, two clear of the field after a dazzling course record 63, had to be content with par figures on the 10th and 11th.

He then bogeyed the 428-yard 12th.

Having holed a 30-foot eagle putt on the long 10th in round one, the 38-year-old Scot missed from six feet for birdie on his return after his second shot had finished close to the water hazard by the green.

At the short 11th, where he made a six-footer on his first visit, Montgomerie missed from 12. When the dropped shot came to take him back to seven under he was only one ahead - and now from three players rather than two.

Ireland's Eamonn Darcy and Swede Fredrik Henge were afternoon starters and they were joined by Dane Thomas Bjorn, who in an eventful opening took a bogey six at the 10th, but then birdied the next two.

Andrew Coltart, playing with Montgomerie and winner last Sunday of the Great North Open at Slaley Hall, took closer order as well, holing from seven feet at the 10th to move to five under.

While Montgomerie battled to stay out in front, Seve Ballesteros was having his now customary fight to survive the halfway cut.

And that was despite him having a remarkable five successive birdies.

Ballesteros, who has had just one pay-day in 10 starts this season and then earned only £1,571, was still four over par and the cut was likely to fall at around level par.

Considering he had been nine over it was some effort, though.

Meanwhile, Londoner Anthony Wall went alongside Bjorn, Darcy and Henge in second after birdies at the fifth and sixth.