• European Masters, Round Two

Dougherty makes first cut of 2011 as McIlroy leads

Nick Dougherty hits a shot © Getty Images

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Nick Dougherty has made his first weekend in 22 attempts on the European Tour, after a safe second round of 72 saw him comfortably placed near the top of the leaderboard at the European Masters.

Dougherty, earmarked as a rising star of the European game by Sir Nick Faldo while still a junior, has enjoyed a generally successful career since turning professional but has inexplicably endured a torrid time this season - failing to make a single cut all year as he has been unable to even get himself onto the money list for the year.

The 29-year-old, whose troubles bring to mind Justin Rose's slump after turning professional or Lee Westwood's demise around the turn of the millennium, still faces a significant uphill battle to secure his card for 2012, especially now his tour exemption for winning the 2009 BMW International Open expires at the conclusion of this season.

But he will give himself a great chance of going on to achieve that challenge if he can finish inside the top five in Crans-sur-Sierre - now a possibility after a strong start to the event in Switzerland.

Following his 63 on Thursday, Dougherty looked comfortable as he made it to the turn one-under on the day. Three bogeys without reply briefly threatened to derail his progress, but the Englishman birdied the 18th to finish on a high, seven-under for the tournament.

"It was a tough day, though, because as much as I was leading the golf tournament, I hadn't made a cut all year and as much as you don't want that in your head, there were two things for me to play for today; one's the tournament, one's to get the monkey off my back with making the cut," Dougherty said.

"I'm very pleased with the way I finished, I need to do a bit more work on my game but hopefully I can come out and play with a bit more flair and flamboyance tomorrow because today it was a little bit cagey."

Dougherty is one shot adrift of US Open champion Rory McIlroy, who shares the lead with England's Simon Dyson, Gary Boyd and Welshman Jamie Donaldson on eight-under.

McIlroy, making his first appearance since injuring his wrist at the US PGA Championship three weeks ago, made an eagle two at the fifth, but was pegged back by a double-bogey seven four holes later as he carded a second round 69 to join the leaders at the halfway stage.

Irish Open champion Dyson followed an opening 66 with an impressive 68 to move out in front. Boyd matched Dyson with his second round 69, while Danny Willett and Martin Kaymer are level with Dougherty, as a host of big names sit a shot further behind at six-under.

Lee Westwood is one of them - thanks to a two-under round of 69 - while Italian star Matteo Manassero fired a 66 to move into contention along with Alex Noren (67).

Dougherty might be about to make a cut but about half the field will not be so lucky, with one recent winner, Oliver Fisher, set to have the weekend off after following up his opening 74 with a 71.

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