Colin Montgomerie pulls two shots clear

Despite a late slip, Colin Montgomerie continued his march to an eighth European order of merit title on Friday when the 42-year-old took a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Volvo Masters.

Montgomerie missed a three-foot putt to bogey the last but he is now eight strokes ahead of his only rival for the 2005 European number one honour, Michael Campbell of New Zealand.

The Scot shot a second round five-under-par 66 at Valderrama to move to nine-under-par 133.

Defending champion Ian Poulter of Britain and the man Poulter beat in a playoff last year, Spain's Sergio Garcia, are in second place.

Campbell, this time playing much earlier than his first round playing-partner Montgomerie, shot a 69 to lie one-under.

Despite his last-hole three-putt, Montgomerie was delighted to sit on top on his own, after sharing the first round lead, and to have pulled away from Campbell.

"You come here with all sorts of pressures and anxieties," he said. "To shoot nine-under-par for two rounds is very, very good.

The Scot was not so happy with the way he was obliged to finish in fast approaching darkness. "It was very, very dark and it does affect one's play," he said. "I don't know why we start so late."

In 2002 Montgomerie and Bernhard Langer had to share the title because it got too dark for them to finish their playoff.

U.S. Open champion Campbell said: "I've got another two rounds to go. Monty is up there doing his stuff but I can't control what he does. I can just control my own destiny.

"I was little bit rusty after a two-week break and it showed when I played with him yesterday. Today I was better focused."

Garcia bogeyed the last for a 67 but felt he could go one better this time, saying: "I haven't done anything extraordinary yet."

Poulter kept his hopes alive of a last-ditch win to keep his record of a victory every year since his first in 2000 by shooting a 68. "I am still perfectly poised," he said.

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