Goosen takes control in Paris

European number one Retief Goosen stamped his authority on the 34th and final Lancome Trophy to open up a commanding lead in Paris.

World number 12 Goosen added a second round 65 to his opening 63 for a 14 under par halfway total of 128 at St Nom-la-Breteche.

The former US Open champion leads by four shots from Spain’s Carlos Rodiles, runner-up here last year, and Belgium youngster Nicolas Colsaerts, with Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley a shot further back.

Colin Montgomerie made the cut with just a shot to spare but Lee Westwood bogeyed the last to miss out by one in his first event since ending his three-year victory drought in Munich a fortnight ago.

Goosen, who has all but given up hope of defending his Order of Merit title as he is behind fellow South African Ernie Els, won the title here in 2000 and was runner-up the following year.

On that occasion he lost a four-shot lead over the last four holes to Sergio Garcia but the 34-year-old is confident of holding on for his ninth tour victory.

Goosen, who holed out from 105 yards for an eagle on the fifth and birdied the next three holes to be out in 31, said: “Pretty much all of my wins have come when leading from the front, including the US Open.

“Once I get in front I seem to be pretty comfortable there. I got off to a slow start and made a good save from the bunker on the third before the eagle really got me going.”

Second placed pair Rodiles and Colsaerts both completed second successive rounds of 66, with Rodiles actually making it three in a row including his final round last year.

“It’s just a pity that this is the last Lancome Trophy,” said Rodiles, 28, who won a scooter for a hole-in-one on the seventh in his first round.

“I like the course and just seem to play well here, although I shot an 80 the first time I played it.”

Rodiles, who spent seven years at high school and University in Florida after leaving home at the age of 15, plans to use the scooter in his home town of Malaga, although he will be somewhat overshadowed by the Ferrari of fellow resident and friend Miguel Angel Jimenez.

“I’ll use the scooter because in Malaga the weather is very good and it’s a small city where it’s very difficult to find parking spaces,” added Rodiles, whose second place last year was his best finish on tour and helped him to finish 43rd on the Order of Merit.

Colsaerts amazingly revealed he had contemplated quitting the game at the age of 19 after losing his card in 2001, but the 20-year-old from Brussels regained it via the Challenge Tour in 2002.

“It was tough to find my position on the tour but I’m getting more comfortable,” said Colsaerts, who turned professional on his 18th birthday and later that month became the youngest player to achieve his card through the qualifying school by battling through all three stages.

“I almost quit but I went out on my own on the Challenge Tour and learnt a lot. I knew I had all the shots in the bag.”

Friday’s best round belonged to unknown Scot Murray Urquhart, who carded a superb 63 for a five under par halfway total of 137.

The 30-year-old from Inverness has earned precisely nothing on the European Tour this season after failing to make a single cut in 12 events.

He has earnt just £1,500 all season by virtue of making one cut in nine events on the Challenge Tour and only found out he was in this event on Sunday, but after starting with a bogey to be four over, picked up nine birdies in the next 15 holes.

“I’m chuffed, I have no idea where there that came from,” admitted Urquhart, who won the 36th card out of 38 at the qualifying school last November.

“It’s a much higher standard than I’m used to. If I shot two rounds of 73 on the Tartan Tour I’d make the cut, but here you’d be packing your bags. It’s a big leap mentally but I’ve been working with psychologist John Pates and he’s helped me a lot.

“It’s been really frustrating but great for your social life as you get every weekend off!”

Montgomerie had literally nothing to say after struggling to a second round 72 which contained just two birdies and three bogeys.

When asked for his comments afterwards the seven-time European number one simply said, “Nothing,” as he walked away.

Such a reaction was on the cards from the moment Montgomerie missed the fairway on the 10th, his opening hole, by just 10 feet and made it known in no uncertain, and unprintable terms, what he thought of the terrible lie he found.

He managed to hack the ball onto the green and two-putted for par from long range, but failed to muster a single birdie to the turn and two bogeys left him worrying about being here for the weekend.

Birdies at the third and sixth gave him some breathing space but he promptly three putted the next and was fortunate a wayward approach to the eighth hit a tree and bounced back into a greenside bunker.

Playing partner and Open champion Ben Curtis made the cut right on the mark of one under.