Golf: Langer out in front in Cologne

Bernhard Langer stormed into the lead in the second round of the German Masters in Cologne.

The veteran German has already won the event three times in its 14-year history.

And he is on course to make it victory number four after a brilliant display in front of his home crowd.

The 44-year-old, two shots off the lead overnight after an opening 67, added an eight-under-par 64 on Friday, just one shot outside the course record at Gut Larcenhof set by Rodger Davis in 1998.

At 13 under par, Langer was two shots clear of Australian Stephen Leaney and Swede Fredrik Jacobson, the playing partners both adding 66s to first round 67s, with Mansfield's Greg Owen a further shot back with three holes to play.

Owen was joint leader overnight and kept his nose in front for much of the second round as he went to the turn in 32 to move to 11 under par.

But Langer refused to let him out of his sights and after going out in 33, rattled in five birdies in six holes from the turn to pull clear of the field.

Leaney would have enjoyed second place on his own if not for missing a three-foot putt for his only bogey of the day on the 16th, but the 32-year-old was happy just to be back in contention.

"The key was the putting," said Leaney, who has won three times on the European Tour. "I think I've made more birdies in the last two days than in the last two months.

"My old 'Bullseye' putter is back in the bag after being banished for four months and it's nice to be able to hole some putts again.

"I've not been playing badly but not finishing it off and it's nice to have two good scores back to back."

Darren Clarke improved on yesterday's 68 by a shot to finish the day on nine under par, four shots off the pace, but was just one ahead of playing partner Retief Goosen who he is trying to overhaul at the top of the Order of Merit.

The Ulsterman could close the £426,240 gap between himself and the US Open champion significantly if he takes the £278,000 first prize on Sunday, but the South African made sure he kept Clarke in his sights by closing with three straight birdies for a second consecutive 68.