Spain's
Jose Rivero opened a two-shot lead in the German Masters on Friday in a late bid
to keep his Tour card next year.
While Europe's leading players scrapped for top Order of Merit positions in the
weather-hit tournament, Rivero was simply fighting for survival.
His six-under-par 66 took him to a 10-under-par 134 after two rounds, two ahead
of South African Retief Goosen (69) and three better than European number one
Colin Montgomerie (67) and outstanding Spanish rookie Sergio Garcia (69).
Rivero was also four ahead of two major winners -- U.S. Masters champion Jose
Maria Olazabal (71) and 1998 U.S. PGA champion Vijay Singh (70).
While his peers will be scrapping over big money for the next few weeks, Rivero
has to try to rise from 132nd in the European rankings to avoid losing the Tour
card he has held for 16 years.
The 44-year-old Spanish veteran shrugged off the need for a a big finish with
only three events to go.
"I
don't feel pressure trying to make my card because I'm a player who just does
his best every week and if that is not good enough, then there's nothing I can
do about it," he said.
"I
play the same every week and it just so happens that I have gone down to 132nd.
"The only thing I've changed
in the last two weeks is my putting grip. I changed to left hand below right two
weeks ago in the Lancome and my putting has been better since.
"Today was a fantastic round in terrible
weather and I hope I can carry this on through the weekend now."
Rivero finished his round in late-afternoon gloom -- other players were unable
to complete the second round because of the poor conditions -- but his seven birdies
had done the job.
South African
Ernie Els was one major winner to miss out on the weekend's play. The out-of-form
double U.S Open champion failed to chip a ball from the bank of the lake on the
last and picked up his ball, knowing he could not make the cut. His card was a
no-return.
Montgomerie, chasing
his sixth Tour win of the year, said: ~I've got my goal and I'm going for it now.
I had four goals -- the majors. My fifth was the Ryder Cup. They've all gone,
so now my seventh Order of Merit is my sixth goal.
