Donald edges Davies in Madrid, McDowell fourth
England’s Luke Donald leads at halfway in the Madrid Masters after Welshman Rhys Davies did not quite get the 25th birthday he most wanted today.
Former Walker Cup player Davies, who has already won in his first full season on the European Tour, was tied for the lead with two holes of his second round to play.
But a bogey on the short 17th robbed him of top spot and he then missed a nine-foot birdie chance at the last on a day which saw Sergio Garcia miss his first halfway cut on European soil for nearly six years.
“I was a little disappointed the way I finished, I thought I could have got the lead on my own, but all in all I’m not going to complain,” said Davies. “I’m right in with a shout.”
A week after losing the BMW PGA Championship by a shot – and that after a double bogey on the penultimate hole – Donald leads on 12 under par after adding a 67 to his opening 65.
Alone of the three first round leaders to have a morning start, Donald went six clear of the field when he turned in 31 and then added further birdies on the second and sixth.
But he three-putted the seventh and then bogeyed the seventh as well after plugging in a bunker.
“It’s hard to play perfect golf for four days, but the two bogeys were not really bad shots and I feel like I have a lot better control with my irons this week,” said the 32-year-old, who despite being 13th in the world has not had a win in Europe for six years and anywhere for four.
“I keep knocking at the door and hopefully it will open soon. I feel like I should have won a few in the last few years, but I’m in a great position here.”
Davies was on the practice putting green when he saw Donald's score, but promptly went out in 33 and, after stumbling with a bogey six at the 10th, had three more birdies in four holes.
Two shots further back in third place is Davies’ compatriot Jamie Donaldson. He was the other man to open with a 65, but could add “only” a 70.
Garcia, level par overnight, knew he needed to find form in a hurry after finding water with his second shot and resuming with a double bogey seven.
He did manage six birdies, but five bogeys followed as well to leave him with a 73 and one-over aggregate.
Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who began the week discovering that he had just kept his place in the world’s top 50 and did not therefore have to qualify for the US Open or Open, is in fourth spot on eight under after a second successive 68.
The 30-year-old, who chipped in for eagle on the opening day, holed a 113-yard pitch for another at his very first hole, but gave up two late shots just like Donald.
“I don’t have to worry about the top 50 any more and it’s like a weight lifted off my shoulders,” he said.
Former French Open champion Graeme Storm, who had to pull out with stomach cramps last week and was still suffering earlier this week, felt a whole lot better after charging from one over to seven under with a course-record 64.
Playing partner Jeppe Huldahl will not want to remember the day, though. The Dane, who next week defends his Wales Open title at Celtic Manor, hit two drives out of bounds on the long 16th, then played the wrong ball in the rough and ran up a sextuple bogey 11.
New Zealander Michael Campbell’s woes continued when he quit after nine holes with shoulder trouble. The 2005 US Open champion was 10 over and still has not made a cut since last October.
Former Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, one behind after his first day 67, fell back to four under with a 74.
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