Rookie Larrazabal sets the standard

Lee Westwood's presence loomed even larger at the French Open today - but Spanish rookie Pablo Larrazabal was still the man on centre stage.

Westwood, playing his first tournament since going so close to his first major victory at the US Open two weeks ago, turned in a superb 33 despite the blustery conditions.

Yet his birdies on the long 14th and 175-yard 16th - he made a 14-footer there - still left him five behind Larrazabal, who qualified for the event last week.

The 25-year-old from Barcelona, who just a few years ago was only the fourth best-known golfer in his family, led by one overnight following a six-under-par 65.

Two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine hinted it was not going to be such a great day for him, but Larrazabal started the inward half with three birdies in four holes.

On nine under as a result, he was four clear of not only 19-year-old Oliver Fisher - who was among the afternoon starters in the second round - but also fellow Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, two under for the round with seven to play.

Larrazabal's older brother Alejandro was British amateur champion in 2002 - he caddied for him at The Masters and in the French Open the following year - while both his parents played international golf.

Westwood joined last year's US Open champion Angel Cabrera in fourth place and was moving nicely into position to leap over Miguel Angel Jimenez and Robert Karlsson at the top of the Order of Merit.

They both started with one-over-par 72s yesterday, but while Jimenez waited to tee off again Karlsson double-bogeyed the 18th in sliding to four over.

Dubliner Peter Lawrie, joint second after his 66, fell back into a tie for sixth with bogeys on the 13th and 16th.