Playing partners Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia mixed wisecracks with moments of golfing wizardry to move within striking distance of Britain’s Ross Fisher after the European Open second round on Friday.
Fisher followed his opening course record, nine-under-par 63 with a more sedate 68 to set the pace on 13-under 131 at the London Club.
“My game didn’t feel quite as sharp as it did yesterday but I’m pretty pleased to be leading,” the 27-year-old told reporters.
“Yesterday everything went in. I took 23 putts, holed a bunker shot and holed a putt from off the green. It was always going to be difficult to repeat that.”
Fellow Briton McDowell fired a 67 to take second place on 132, three ahead of Garcia who crammed seven birdies and an eagle in a 64. Dane Soren Hansen (67) was fourth on 136.
“There was a bit of banter going on,” said McDowell. “We had a really good time.
“I’m not sure if any of the jokes are printable. Our two caddies are pretty much best friends too and the stories were flying round.”
McDowell began a calm, sunny day at the 10th and made a fast start with three birdies in the first six holes.
The Northern Irishman, winner of the Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea earlier this season, dropped his only stroke at the short 17th before notching three more birdies coming home.
McDowell was full of praise for the ball-striking skills of his Spanish partner.
“I have not played much golf with Sergio,” he said. “He is one of the few top players in the world I’ve not had a chance to play with much.
“It was really, really good to play with him the last couple of days. He is a nice guy and has such a relaxed attitude on the course it can only inspire you to play well.”
World number eight Garcia may have been relaxed on the course but later he spoke of his disappointment with three successive holes.
“I am not happy with the way I played four, five and six,” he said. “I had a really good round going and my second shot on four from the middle of the fairway with a nine-iron became plugged in a bunker and a bogey stopped my momentum.
“I didn’t birdie the next when I three-putted from long range and I didn’t birdie the sixth either, again from the middle of the fairway.”
Garcia, though, rattled in a nine-foot eagle putt at the long eighth and birdied the ninth from 18 feet.
“Fortunately for me I had a great finish so that made up a little bit,” said the winner of the prestigious Players Championship in Florida in May.
“The good thing is I got myself back in the tournament.”
Among a posse of players six strokes off the pace were holder Colin Montgomerie, fellow Briton Ian Poulter and Ireland’s Paul McGinley.
Briton Darren Clarke, who on 146 was certain to miss the halfway cut, was disqualified for signing for a par-four instead of a five at the 18th, his final hole.
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