Casey's woes continue at Forest of Arden

Paul Casey brought his poor run of form in America to the Forest of Arden today, crashing to an outward 42 in the second round of the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters.

While Ryder Cup partner David Howell continued his bid for the title, Casey looked like missing yet another half-way cut.

He has failed to make it to the weekend in five of his six US Tour starts, including last month’s Masters at Augusta, and although he has beaten cup team-mate Paul McGinley in a play-off in China his confidence is low.

It was problems on the greens that caused an horrendous start in the difficult windy conditions this morning.

After going over the back of the 10th, his first, he three-putted from inside six feet for a double bogey six and then on the long 12th had a four-putt seven, the last three putts from inside three feet.

More dropped shots came on the 14th and 18th, though both of those were as a result of finding sand.

Howell, whose 11th place on his Masters debut was by some distance his best-ever performance in a major, has not won a title since the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic.

But on the course where he led after an opening 66 last year he was one of four overnight leaders following a 69 this time and with seven holes to play remained three under.

Darren Clarke, like Montgomerie twice a winner on the course, produced highs and lows in equal measure to stand two over after 10.

The high was an eagle on the 17th, where he struck a massive drive well over 300 yards and an approach to five feet, but he had bogeys either side and on the 12th almost had steam coming out of his ears.

Another great drive set up a birdie or even eagle chance, but his second flew long and left into a patch of horrendous rough.

On arriving at the spot Clarke threw away the club he had in his hand and pulled another out of his bag as though he was about to break it into a hundred bits.

The club survived and although he moved the ball only a few yards and then played an average chip to 12 feet sinking the putt meant he saved par.