• Open de Andalucia, Round Two

Edoardo Molinari offers Ryder reminder

Edoardo Molinari, something of a forgotten man, was red hot on Friday © Getty Images

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Edoardo Molinari put his hand up for a place in the European Ryder Cup team by returning to form with a round of 65 on the second day of the Open de Andalucia.

Molinari was named as a wildcard for the 2010 European squad ahead of the likes of Paul Casey and Justin Rose, having produced a brilliant performance to win the Johnnie Walker Championship.

However, he is winless on the European Tour since then, and his star has been on the wane in recent months: the Italian is currently 88th in the world rankings, and 129th in the Race to Dubai.

He also looks a long way from a place in Jose Maria Olazabal's team to face America later this year. He currently sits 42nd in the European Points List, the top five in which will earn a guaranteed place at the Ryder Cup.

But Molinari was terrific on Friday at the Aloha Club: starting on the back nine, he picked up birdies at 14 and 16 before adding five in eight holes after the turn. It was a masterclass in iron play from Molinari, who hit 50% of fairways but found 16 out of 18 greens in regulation.

He is six under for the tournament, two behind Spain's Eduardo de la Riva, who leads the way after a three-under 69.

Following his course-record equalling 64 in the opening round, overnight leader Matteo Manassero came crashing back down to earth. The Italian, so prolific on day one, struggled to get anything going in the early stages of his round and a dropped shot at the par-three fourth was evidence of his growing frustration. Two further bogeys gave him much to do in the closing stages and, although two late birdies helped repair some of the damage, he closed the day one behind the leader after signing for a one-over 73.

Manassero is alongside fourth others, including Spanish duo Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal, in a tie for second on seven-under-par. Jimenez fired six birdies in a 68 but two bogeys prevented him from shooting a score of any real note, while Larrazabal - who reeled off four birdies in a row at one stage - posted a modest 69.

Rafael Cabrera-Bello, 11th on the European Points List, had a 70 to move to three under. Englishman Robert Rock is two adrift of De la Riva after signing for a 69. Rock got off to a fast start, two birdies from the off putting a spring in his step, before lapses in concentration led to a brief wobble. After a double-bogey six at the par-four seventh his level picked up and he is well set to push for glory over the weekend.

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