Jimenez won't let go

The 54-year-old history of Europe’s flagship PGA Championship has seen only two players retain the title – but Miguel Angel Jimenez is out to make that three at Wentworth this weekend.

Bidding to emulate Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie, the 45-year-old Spaniard finished his second round 70 with an eagle today to set the early clubhouse target on six under.

But, in stark contrast, Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood slumped to his worst 36-hole total in Europe for six years and, like Masters champion Angel Cabrera, made an early exit from the £4m (€4.54m) tournament.

Former European number one Westwood, runner-up to Montgomerie when he made it three wins in a row in 2000, has had a wretched record in the event since and two 77s merely added to the list.

“I know where Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter are coming from – and I might join the club,” he said.

Harrington and Poulter both stayed away for the second year running this week, but that was because of the state of the greens and that was not Westwood’s problem.

“They were the best I’ve seen here ironically for many a year,” he added, the irony being that next week all 18 are being ripped up and redone.

“I just didn’t hit it very well, but I missed only one cut in Europe last year and that was here.”

Westwood actually pulled out injured 12 months ago and joked: “I was thinking as I was going up the sixth today that at least I had lasted longer.”

Jimenez was joint leader with England’s David Horsey and Anthony Wall, who both added an early birdie to their opening rounds of 67.

Two behind were Jimenez’s compatriot Alvaro Quiros, Frenchman Thomas Levet, South African Charl Schwartzel, Swede Niclas Fasth and Wentworth member Ross Fisher, who next week defends his European Open title.

Cabrera could add only a 75 to his first day 74 for a five over aggregate.

American star John Daly was far from happy with how he hit the ball, but three back nine chip-ins gave him a 71 and he looked safely inside the cut mark at level par.

The shots on the 13th and 15th were for birdies, the second of them from a bunker, and then at the long 17th the 1995 Open champion holed out for an eagle.

“I don’t think I’ve chipped in three times in a full year, let alone one day,” he said.

“I think I’ll pull the driver out of the bag tomorrow and just go with a three-wood. I just can’t get comfortable off the tee yet – and I’ve only made one putt outside seven feet.”

Daly’s six-month US Tour ban after being put in jail to sober up is almost up, but as well as playing next week’s European Open in Kent he might add the Wales Open to his schedule if there is no invite to play in America.