Faldo and Olazabal share early second round lead

Jose Maria Olazabal and Nick Faldo, who have won five U.S. Masters titles between them, moved ominously into contention early in the second round of the Benson and Hedges International Open on Friday.

Reigning Masters champion Olazabal, who won that title for the second time last month, fired a 67 and Faldo, three times the Augusta champion but without a tournament win for more than two years, a 69.

They joined three others on seven-under-par.

Two of those, overnight leaders Miguel Angel Jimenez and Welshman Phil Price, had yet to tee off in the second round but a surprise face at the top was that of Soren Hansen of Denmark, who followed his opening 69 with a tidy 68 for his 137.

But the presence on the leaderboard of the gifted Olazabal and the struggling Faldo on the same total will probably be more significant come Sunday.

Olazabal, who has yet to drop a shot at The Oxfordshire this week, completed halves of 34 and 33.

"I made two great saves today - at the 16th and the ninth - and my putting was steady. What's made the difference, though, has been my driving - I hit 10 fairways today and that's pretty good for me," the Spaniard said.

Olazabal said his driving had benefitted from two hours spent with his coach John Jacobs on Thursday.

"I've had a pretty strange season, either missing cuts or turning in good performances. But I'll take another four missed cuts if I can win another major event," he said.

Faldo, whose last title came at the Nissan Open in California in 1997, followed his opening 68 with a 69.

"It's a big improvement to shoot seven-under after the opening two rounds. And it was good to keep going forward today - that was productive. Hopefully I won't be more than three back at halfway so I'm there," Faldo said.

Although he wasted two good birdie opportunities with missed putts from five and eight feet respectively over his closing holes, Faldo said he also made some good saves.

"I'm hitting some better shots when I need to - and that's always a good boost."

Hansen, 25, only turned professional two years ago and is sharing a lead for the first time.

"It's all a bit new for me after coming through the Challenge Tour but I'm really looking forward to the weekend, I can't wait to get started," he said.

Reuters