McDowell vaults into lead with 64

Briton Graeme McDowell, who narrowly missed out on Europe's Ryder Cup team, continued his rich vein of form to lead the German Masters second round on Friday.

The 25-year-old Ulsterman, once ranked number one collegiate golfer in the United States, included a pitch-in eagle-two in a round of 64 to move into a three-stroke lead at 11 under par.

McDowell, in search of his second win of the year, was three shots ahead of two Australian left-handers, Nick O'Hern and Richard Green, and Raphael Jacquelin of France.

The leader's spark was provided by a round of 62 in the BMW International two weeks ago on the day Europe's Ryder Cup team was decided.

"The 62 was a pretty symbolic round, even if it was preferred-lies," McDowell told reporters. "It was my lifetime best in tournament play and I closed off on a good note.

"I hadn't realise how realistic making the (Ryder Cup) team was, and I'll definitely be working as hard as I can to make the team for Ireland (in 2006).

"You don't have to light up the world, just play consistently and everything I do for the next two years will be geared to making the Ryder Cup."

McDowell played all four rounds at last week's European Masters with triple-major champion Ernie Els, and aims to take a leaf out of the world number three's book.

"Ernie goes into a Saturday within three shots of the lead 78 percent of the time and I go into a Saturday within three shots of the lead 28 percent of the time.

"That's what I'm looking to do."

The three second-placed men are all looking for their first wins of the year.

O'Hern has had a second place, two thirds, a fourth and a fifth place to sit 15th on the European money-list.

Green, without a win since defeating Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam for the 1997 Dubai Desert Classic title, has been second three times, and Jacquelin has finished second twice and third once.

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