Westwood on course to retain title

Lee Westwood is well on course to retain the Smurfit European Open at the K Club, despite a small diversion into the River Liffey. The world number six's second shot to the 424-yard 17th, his eighth hole of the day, finished in the river and cost him a double-bogey six.

However by then he had already hit four birdies and in the remaining 10 holes he had three more for a 68 and five-under-par halfway total of 139.

He was the early clubhouse leader, but one behind fellow Englishmen Gary Evans and Gary Emerson, who had five and two holes to play respectively.

The 27-year-old turned a seven-stroke deficit into a three-shot win last year, shooting a closing 65 to overnight leader Darren Clarke's 75.

Nonetheless it was Colin Montgomerie, Argentina's Angel Cabrera, Italian Massimo Scarpa and Worthing's Gary Evans that Westwood was chasing this time. The first three of those had still to resume after their opening rounds of 67 and Evans, still to win on the European Tour like Cabrera and Scarpa, joined them with three birdies in four holes from the 12th.

Westwood, who has rejuvenated his form from only two months ago, has since beaten Tiger Woods in Hamburg and finished second, fourth, fifth and first again.

The fifth place was at last month's US Open at Pebble Beach and represented his best-ever finish in a Major. Clarke was another late starter on Friday and hoping to reproduce his magic of the second round a year ago.

On that occasion the Ulsterman equalled the European record with a 12-under-par 60, just missing two putts on the last two greens. However the course chosen for the 2005 Ryder Cup, the first one in Ireland, has been lengthened and toughened since.

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