Woosnam on form at the K Club

Ian Woosnam, joint runner-up in the Smurfit European Open last year, showed his liking for the K Club near Dublin again today.

Although he had qualified for the final two rounds with nothing to spare at three over par, that was only eight shots behind leader Michael Campbell.

And Woosnam ate into that deficit by going to the turn in a two-under 33 and then picking up another birdie at the long 10th.

The 44-year-old Welshman, winner of the Cisco World Match Play title last October and third at the Open after a two-shot penalty, was up to level par and producing the best golf of the morning.

The lowest score in yesterday’s second round was 69 and the lowest score of the week the 67s on Thursday by South African Darren Fichardt and Australian Jarrod Moseley.

The County Kildare course was far removed, it seemed, from the shorter one on which Darren Clarke equalled the European Tour record with his 12-under-par 60 three years ago.

Among the players Woosnam was overtaken was 47-year-old Australian Greg Norman, who after the rich promise of his opening 69 had taken 76 in the second round and dropped to two over with a bogey at the second.