McIlroy starts well in Munich

Rory McIlroy got off to a good start this morning on the second day of the BMW International Open in Munich, improving to three under to sit five strokes behind leader Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Goosen, whose opening 64 had given him a two-stroke advantage, missed chances on the first three holes to remain eight under – while 20-year-old McIlroy made his presence felt after carding a 71 yesterday for one under.

McIlroy was playing with 51-year-old Bernhard Langer, who had outscored him by three yesterday and was still four under after two opening pars.

England’s Danny Willett and David Lynn were only a stroke behind Goosen after fast starts to their second rounds.

Willett, a Walker Cup team-mate of McIlroy two years ago who earned his Tour card at the qualifying school last November, followed his closing 25-foot eagle putt yesterday with birdies at the 11th and 13th.

Stoke-based Lynn, whose only victory in nearly 300 Tour starts came in Holland five years ago, kicked off the back nine with back-to-back birdies to stand seven under par as well.

Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie’s mixed bag continued as he three-putted the 10th and made a 10-footer for birdie on the long next but then bogeyed again at the 13th to slip back to one under.

Paul McGinley is among the later starters still in contention after yesterday's 68 left him four under, while Ireland's Peter Lawrie was at three under,

The halfway cut was expected to fall at around two under, leaving Irish Open winner Shane Lowry - whose first-round 74 left him two over - in danger.