English team vault five clear

A fine show of foursomes play took England's Paul Casey and Luke Donald into a commanding five-stroke lead in Friday's second round of the WGC World Cup.

Despite further fall-out over Casey's attack on American golf culture earlier in the week which has left the 27-year-old regretting his words, the England duo racked up nine birdies to surge to a 19-under-par total of 125.

Casey was responsible for all nine birdie putts. That took them past of Austrian dark horses Markus Brier and Martin Wiegele and six shots ahead of six other teams, including overnight co-leaders Ireland, home favourites Spain and the US, whose Scott Verplank expressed resentment over Casey's comments on Wednesday.

Casey and Donald faltered twice towards the end, bogeying the last after saving par on the long 16th where Casey had found water with his only par-five tee-shot of the day.

But they were well on course to emulate Nick Faldo and David Carter, England's only previous World Cup winners who won in 1998 at Auckland, New Zealand, where Verplank won the individual title.

To hoist England's colours again Casey, who was quoted in a newspaper as saying he had felt "hate" towards the Americans during the Ryder Cup, will have to keep sharp focus after the furore which has left him worrying over the response when he plays on next year's US Tour.

The backlash spread to the course on Friday.

South African Rory Sabbatini's American wife Amy sported a T-shirt with the words 'Stoopid Amerikan' on the front and 'PC is not PC' on the back.

Casey has tried to dampen down the controversy. "I'd rather not take any questions on that. Just play my golf," he said.

Donald said the Englishmen's success in scoring nine birdies in 12 holes had been based on a alternate-shot strategy of him teeing off on odd-numbered holes, meaning he played all the par-threes and drove on three of the par-fives.

"It worked just fine because my ironplay is very strong and Paul putted very well," he said.

"There are a lot of well-recognised names on the trophy and it would be a great attribute to everyone's resume."

Casey added: "It would be great to win for your country and it would be my only win of the year!"

Austria, who led with Ireland after the first round, also bogeyed the last but Brier, ranked 211th in the world, and Wiegele, ranked 533rd, refused to go away, sandwiching four birdies around the turn between bogeys at the third and last.

Ireland looked set to be England's nearest challengers until Padraig Harrington, the highest world ranked player in the field at eight, hit into the lake on 16, giving him and partner Paul McGinley, the 1997 World Cup champions, a double-bogey.

Mexico, whose Alejandro Quiroz was penalised one stroke for slow play after the first round, continue to prop up the 24-team field, 21 shots back.

The tournament reverts to fourball for Saturday's third round.

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