Griffiths takes lead in Spain

England’s David Griffiths stormed into the lead at the Spanish Open today - back at the club where he finished third in last November’s European Tour qualifying school.

The 26-year-old from Watford, three behind at the start of his second round at San Roque, produced a career-low 65 to reach the halfway mark on the 11-under-par total of 133.

Midway through the day’s play Griffiths was one ahead of Dane Thomas Bjorn, who burst even more out of the pack with a 64.

Overnight leaders Graeme Storm and Jose-Felipe Lima, who both opened with 65s, were among the later starters, as were Seve Ballesteros’ nephew Raul on six under and Colin Montgomerie on four under.

Griffiths, who represented England at boys, youths and full level as an amateur, played the “second division” Nationwide Tour in Ameria after turning professional.

After returning to Europe he finished only 153rd on the tour last year, but he had his first top-10 finish, in Madeira, last month.

“The States was good experience,” he said. “It was almost like college for me – I got away from home and learned how to do things for myself.

“I had a base at Sea Island in Georgia and I decided to have a crack at the US Tour school.”

Since the start of Ryder Cup qualifying last September, Bjorn has already had two enforced lay-offs. He fell ill on the final day of the Seve Trophy and an ambulance was called when his temperature rose to 104 degrees on his return home.

He pulled out of the Dunhill links championship in Scotland and then, after flying to San Francisco for the American Express World Championship, withdrew after 54 holes and spent three more days in hospital there.

Bjorn, runner-up in the USPGA last August, then suffered a recurrence of a neck injury and spent five weeks without touching a club earlier this year.

The 35-year-old said: “It wasn’t much fun. It was the time of year when you build for big things and when you can’t play you feel like you’re losing out.

“I’ve had a problem since I was 18. I have a very straight neck, no curvature, and sometimes it gets inflamed and I have no movement.”

He has fallen behind in the Ryder Cup race as a result, but Bjorn, a member of the 1997 and 2002 winning teams who served as one of Bernhard Langer’s assistants in the Detroit victory two years ago, added: “The Ryder Cup will take care of itself.

“I know that if I play my best golf I’m among the 12 best players and when I’m on form I add to the team.

“But if I don’t make it I don’t make it. It’s a great thing to be part of and I want to be part of it again, but there’s so much more strength in depth in Europe now and we’ve 20-22 players that we can pick from and still be a strong team.”

Last July he suffered the nightmare of a closing 86 in the European Open – he led by four with a round to play and was still joint leader when he took 11 on the penultimate hole – and then missed the halfway cut in the Open at St Andrews when he drove out of bounds on the last.

“I’ve had some real lows in my career, but I’ve had some great highs as well and I expect that will continue for the seven years or whatever I have left at the top of the game,” he added.

“I just wish I could have a couple of those years now without any injuries or ill-health.”

The Ryder Cup in September is at the K Club near Dublin, scene of his 86 last July and of his 2004 walk-out when he was “fighting demons“.

The European Open is back there this summer, but Bjorn has already decided he will not be playing that week.

“I don’t have the best of memories there,” he said. “Not because of last year, but because of two years ago.”