Kjeldsen takes lead into the weekend

Soren Kjeldsen made a bid to open Denmark's account on this year's European Tour by taking the lead in the Diageo championship, but high winds and the PGA Centenary course again dominated.

Kjeldsen is one of only four players to beat 70 this week, his four-under-par 68 earning him a one-shot second-round lead over Britain's former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst, who also carded 68.

Dutchman Rolf Muntz and Australian Brad Kennedy are two strokes behind.

But while the leaders escaped relatively unscathed it was not the case for the brunt of the field as the cut-off rose with the disruptive weather of the first two days and fearsome rough on a course that will stage the 2014 Ryder Cup.

At eight-over-par, the cut equalled the highest of the year in the March Madeira Island Open and only six players are under par for the tournament.

Numerous players shot in the 80s and three went close to carding 90s, including former winner Sven Struver of Germany with an 87.

The highest return of the day went to Britain's Chris Gane, whose 89 owed much to his 17 shots on the par-five 18th, the second-highest score for a hole on the European Tour. He needed eight attempts to clear the infamous rough.

The par-five 18th, in particular, proved a stumbling-block. Defending champion Adam Scott of Australia ran up a seven there after losing a ball. He slipped to seven strokes off the lead after shooting a 75 to be three-over-par and in 21st place.

In the first round Scott had four-putted his final hole, the ninth, costing himself two shots and a share of the lead.

Spaniard Ignacio Garrido, winner of the European Tour's flagship event, the Volvo PGA Championship, signed off with a nine at the final hole for an 80 that left him 15-over-par.

Sandy Lyle also fell foul of the 18th. The 45-year-old was looking for at least a share of second place but lost a ball to double-bogey and drop back to level-par, four strokes off the pace.

Fellow Briton Lee Westwood was again showing signs of a return to form before also double-bogeying the last to finish eight shots off the lead, although he made the cut comfortably on four-over.

At the other end of the leaderboard Kjeldsen made his move to try to become the latest Danish success story after four wins for the country on the European Tour last year, needing only 24 putts to take over the lead.

"I'd say 24 putts was unbelievable in those conditions," said Kjeldsen. "The eighth green was very nearly unplayable and it took forever to make just a two-footer there."

The 28-year-old is having a successful season but wants to improve further from six top-20 finishes, including two fourth places, that have moved him up to 22nd on the European money list.

"I finished fourth in the Hong Kong Open because I just couldn't putt on the Sunday, so let's hope my good putting stays with me at the weekend."

Colin Montgomerie is in contention despite not being under par on either day. He is five strokes off the lead after a 73.

The Scot, 40 next week, could be Europe's Ryder Cup captain in 2014 and was unabashed by the fearsome course rough, saying: "The higher the rough the better. We play far too many courses in Europe that you can get away with shots. This is great."

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