Jimenez takes lead into the weekend

Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez took a huge stride towards a Ryder Cup place with a one-shot lead in the Algarve Portuguese Open second round on Friday.

The 40-year-old Malaga professional will go top of three tables if he claims his second win of the season on Sunday -- the two Ryder Cup lists and the European order of merit.

A blemish-free six-under-par 66 for a nine-under-par 135 total put him one shot ahead of Irishman Damien McGrane, Spain's Ignacio Garrido and Terry Price of Australia.

Briton Ian Woosnam and overnight leader Peter Lawrie of Ireland were two strokes off the pace.

Jimenez can make up some of the ground he lost by being disqualified at last month's Qatar Masters if he seals his ninth tour victory, although the disqualification may be very costly.

The top 50 players in the world rankings last Sunday qualified for next week's U.S. Masters and the points Jimenez failed to collect in Doha meant he was left in 53rd spot.

The Spaniard was only five strokes off the lead going into the final round at the Qatar Masters before being disqualified after signing for a wrong third round score.

After watching television footage, tournament officials deemed Jimenez's ball did not return to its spot, as he said it did, after it moved during a practice swing.

The disqualification also meant Jimenez did not qualify for last month's Players Championship at Sawgrass in Florida.

Jimenez had a start in this week's Bellsouth Classic, too, so he has missed out on millions of dollars in prize money and an even better chance of consolidating his Ryder Cup place.

Europe faces the U.S in the biennial competition at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in September.

Although the Ryder Cup is one of his main goals, Jimenez, who has said that worrying too much about the match has affected his chances, is still refusing to think too far ahead.

"The disqualification is history now but it cost me the TPC, and probably the Masters," he said after collecting six birdies on Friday.

"You have to keep going. The Ryder Cup is a target but a long-term target. For now, I have to concentrate and live this moment."

The 208,330 points for the winner would take Jimenez past a million points on the European Ryder Cup table and he would also overtake Padraig Harrington on the world points list.

However, the Irishman could still regain the lead with the right result in the BellSouth Classic on Sunday.

McGrane, in his second full tour season and looking to "go up another level", picked up eight birdies in a 66, but missed a chance to share the lead when his 15ft eagle putt on the last just failed to drop.

Price birdied the last two holes to share second place after another 68, despite suffering with the neck pain he has had for two months.

Garrido was almost prevented from playing by callouses on his hand caused by lengthy practice sessions after making swing changes with coach Domingo Hospital but he battled on and birdied three of the last five holes for his 67.

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