Donald moves two strokes ahead

Britain's Luke Donald continued his remarkable run in Europe by setting up the chance of a third win in seven events when he took a two-shot lead in the Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday.

Donald only returned to the European Tour on the advice of Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer and tour executive director Ken Schofield. The 26-year-old thanked the pair after shooting a four-under-par 68 at British Open venue Carnoustie to wrest the lead from Ryder Cup team mate David Howell,

"I'm indebted to Bernhard and Ken Schofield for persuading me to come over and play my (mandatory) 11 events because if I hadn't done so, I wouldn't be here now," said Donald after moving to 17-under-par 271.

That put him clear of Howell, another European Ryder Cup debutant, Ian Poulter, and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.

Cup captain Langer had been so impressed with Donald's U.S. Tour performances this season he told the young Briton he should return to Europe in the summer, having him in mind for a wild card for Oakland Hills if he did not qualify automatically.

While Donald did not quite get in by right, he did get a pick from Langer and proved one of Europe's success stories as America were thrashed 18 1/2 points to 9 1/2 points.

Donald took to Europe like a duck to water, winning the Scandinavian Masters and following up with victory in the European Masters.

"It was beyond my wildest dreams that I could go this far," added former successful Walker Cup amateur Donald.

"It's got me to 30th on the world rankings and opened some doors for me and I'll definitely be playing my 11 events here next year."

Howell's 71 at Carnoustie gave him a chance to improve on his third place in the WGC American Express Championship last week. Poulter's 65 was only a stroke away from Colin Montgomerie's Carnoustie course record.

After eight birdies, following an opening bogey, Poulter said: "The Ryder Cup was a great boost but it's time to move on now to try to win tournaments."

World number two Ernie Els still has chance to make it back-to-back titles after a 68 left him five shots off the lead and three strokes better than the man above him the world rankings, Vijay Singh, who shot 69.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke suffered a two-stroke penalty for playing the wrong ball at the 12th which meant a 66 instead of a 64 and he ended eight off the pace.

Briton Stephen Gallacher holds fifth place on 14-under and leads the team event by a stroke on 28-under with retired businessman and racehorse owner Martyn Arbib.

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