Penalty costs Romero weekend lead

Argentine veteran Eduardo Romero saw his lead in the British Masters second round on Friday snatched from his hands by a two-shot penalty he incurred when his ball moved while he was addressing it.

A round of six-under-par 66 that would have taken him to 11-under-par 133 and into a one-shot lead, was changed to a 68 and 135 that left him trailing Sweden's Patrik Sjoland, by a shot instead.

Romero, 50 in July but still playing well enough to claim a ninth European Tour title, was sure he had not touched the grass with his putter when his ball moved as it was poised over the cup at the 14th hole.

He told his marker Barry Lane of Britain he was "100 per cent sure" his putter had not touched the grass.

The ex-caddie from Cordoba then had second thoughts and suggested television evidence should be checked.

When he had seen video footage, Romero immediately saw he had broken the rule and accepted his two-shot penalty, one shot for the ball moving at address and another because he did not replace it in its original position.

Romero, who finished off his round with two birdies, despite his worries about the 14th, said: "The rule is the rule. That's life. I am a little bit disappointed - not very disappointed - but there are two rounds to go.

"I am playing good, my swing is good, and I can still win."

Romero can become the oldest tour winner if he wins on Sunday at the age of 49 and 297 days, outdoing Ireland's Des Smyth who was 48 and 34 days when he won the 2001 Madeira Island Open.

Sjoland, benefited from Romero's mishap as the Swede posted a blemish-free seven-birdie 65 to set the target of 10-under 134, playing his best two rounds for nearly four years.

"These have been my best two days since I won the Irish Open at Ballybunion in 2000," said the Swede, unaware of Romero's two-shot penalty.

Britain's Brian Davis shared second place with Romero after coming back from a late double-bogey to pick up three shots in his final three holes to card a 67.

Lee Westwood further consolidated his comeback after a 65 took him within two strokes of the lead.

Colin Montgomerie, playing just a few days after announcing his impending divorce from wife Eimear, made the cut with a 69 that left him seven shots off the pace.

Tournament favourite Darren Clarke, like Montgomerie with two wins at the hosting Forest of Arden course, slipped to a 73 that left him nine shots off the lead but his playing-partner Jose Maria Olazabal fared even worse when the Spaniard's 74 caused him to miss his third successive cut.

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