Daly opens four shot lead

John Daly produced two eagles as he soared to a four-stroke halfway lead in the BMW International.

The American shot 64 for a total of 127 while his nearest rival, Australian Adam Scott, also carded a 64 for 131.

With expectations that 20-under might be the winning total, Daly is already 17-under after capturing 10 threes during a spectacular second round.

Daly is now set to win his first tournament since his playoff victory over Italy's Costantino Rocca in the 1995 British Open.

The American is five shots better than Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, making a late bid for a Ryder Cup place with an albatross on the 11th, two players who are already in Europe's team for The Belfry, Irishman Padraig Harrington and Dane Thomas Bjorn, and his co-overnight front-runner Richard Green of Australia.

"It's been a long time since I've had a four-stroke lead and a long time since I've been in with a chance of winning," said a delighted Daly after his 30ft putt went in on the last.

"Every time I come over here for a sponsor, getting fees for it, I want to make the cut because I don't want the sponsors to be mad at me.

"I've done that this year but that's because I came here not thinking about making the cut but thinking about winning the tournament.

"It's a different mind-set thinking about winning rather than barely making the cut."

World traveller Daly is now thinking about increasing his globetrotting because of what he thinks is a bizarre world rankings.

"The world rankings are all upside-down right now. I think it's better for me to be a world traveller and play golf all over the world than stay at home and play.

"This tournament is worth more points than the coinciding one in Vancouver on the U.S. Tour. I'd get more points and get my world rankings up by travelling around.

"I've always had good vibes in Europe and it's nice to play decently again."

Daly has not always had a love affair with European courses, having missed cuts, particularly one year in the Dutch Open when he crashed to an 89, but the easy-going American is on course to get his career back.

"I've been in some good positions this year but I haven't been in this situation for a while but not in six years since the British Open.

"I still have a sense of what it feels like to win but I'm playing this weekend by ear!"

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