Ryder Cup players find form

Key European Ryder Cup player Padraig Harrington has suffered another injury setback just a fortnight before the match against the U.S. at the Belfry.

While his team mates Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood returned to form in the second round of the German Masters on Friday, Harrington was extremely concerned after a recurrence of a neck injury.

Despite firing a second round six-under-par 66, the Irishman, who is also battling a left ankle injury, revealed he had nearly pulled out of the tournament.

"This pain is on the right side (of my neck), whereas it was hurting on the left before," said Harrington, the world number eight.

"I had a terrible night without a wink of sleep and I very nearly had to pull out of the tournament this morning.

"Last night I hit some shots on the range and it was a bit cold, so I guess I did it then."

Harrington is convinced that too much practice is causing the injuries.

"On Tuesday I spent five or six hours on the range and hit about 20 baskets of balls," he said.

"I'm now going to have to be cautious about practice and find a happy medium.

"I'd love to hit less balls but I need the practice because I feel if I don't hit balls I won't get it right.

"And now I'm concerned the latest injury is affecting my swing.

"I will be strengthening the neck muscles over the winter -- I'll come back with neck muscles like a rugby player -- but I can't do anything about it at the moment.

"I feel like an idiot. I'm a walking disaster. It'll be my right leg go next."

He still lies very handily placed on nine under par, three behind leader Ian Woosnam who shot a 64 Friday.

Montgomerie, meanwhile, showed no sign of his recent back problems on the way to a six-under-par 66, while Westwood fired a 67 to join his fellow Briton five strokes behind Woosnam.

Englishman Westwood was delighted with his form.

"I think it's my lowest round of the year," he said. "I feel as though I've taken two or three too many, still, though, and I haven't been able to say that for a few months.

"Today and yesterday are probably the first time I've hit the ball like I did in 2000.

"What I have worked on this week, will work short and long term."

Westwood's only regret is that he will almost certainly be playing golf with his manager next week, instead of featuring with most of his Cup team mates in the WGC American Express Championship for a final Ryder Cup warm-up.

He would have qualified to play last year but his only chance of getting to Mount Juliet, Ireland, is to take the $465,000 first prize in Germany to creep into Europe's top 20 on Sunday from his current 75th spot.

Even then, he would have to rely on other players' results.

"If you're going to have it (the American Express Championship) the week before the Ryder Cup, it would make sense to get the Ryder Cup players there and then they don't invite them," Westwood said.

"But they decided not to and we knew from the start of the year, those were the rules, so that's fair enough."

Montgomerie was delighted with his best result for many weeks, particularly because his recurring back spasms showed no sign of returning.

"It was a very comfortable 66," the seven-times European number one said. "I played lovely and scored exactly as I should have done. The rust is wearing off and everything is okay."

As well as Harrington, Montgomerie and Westwood scoring well, there were other pleasing Ryder Cup performances for Europe's captain Sam Torrance.

Thomas Bjorn's 70 also left him five off the lead and Bernhard Langer shot 70 to be six off the pace.

Swedes Pierre Fulke and Niclas Fasth will also play the weekend after carding rounds of 71.

Welshman Phillip Price was the only one to miss the cut after a 71 for level par, but Irishman Paul McGinley made the weekend comfortably on four under after a second successive 70.

Neither player will be on duty again until the match starts at the Belfry in two weeks, having missed out on places at the American express Championship.

The 44-year-old Woosnam was only one shot off the Gut Larchenhof course record as he moved to a 12-under-par total of 132, one stroke ahead of Australian Stephen Leaney and fellow Britons Warren Bennett and Nick Dougherty.

U.S. PGA champion Rich Beem dropped three shots in the last three holes to miss the cut.

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