• Johnnie Walker Championship, 2nd Round

Wiesberger eyes Ryder Cup spot

Bernd Wiesberger is one shot off the lead at Gleneagles © Getty Images

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Bernd Wiesberger admits he is looking to play his way into Europe's Ryder Cup team as he sits one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Ricardo Gonzalez tops the leaderboard at Gleneagles after going 14-under on Friday. Gonzalez carded 65 for the second consecutive round, with birdies on his last fives holes on the Centenary Course - which will host next year's Ryder Cup - while Wiesberger hit 66.

Wiesberger, of Austria, missed out in the five-man play-off at 2011's tournament but, with two victories last season, has impressed Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

"I played with Mr McGinley in the final round of the Scottish Open and afterwards he said he was very happy with my game and thinks I can play myself into the team. That's something I really enjoyed hearing," Wiesberger said.

"It's good that I have my name up there and even though qualifying has not started yet [it begins in Wales next week], it's important to play well at the Ryder Cup venue and make a statement that way."

Englishmen Mark Foster and Tommy Fleetwood kept themselves in the mix, moving to three shots off the lead following the second round.

Fleetwood hit a seven-under 65 and Foster 67 to tie for third place on 11-under. Foster, 38, is eyeing a second European Tour victory 10 years after his first, which came after a six-man play-off in the Dunhill Championship in South Africa in 2003.

And he admits the memory of losing out in the play-off alongside Wiesberger two years ago, after bogeying the 72nd hole of regulation play when he had a one-shot lead, has weighed heavily on his mind.

"At the time it was not too bad, but as it went on I thought about it more, especially every time I step onto the 18th tee here now," Foster said.

Paul Lawrie's 67 moved him to seven-under, alongside compatriots Scott Henry and Richie Ramsay, while Craig Lee was one shot better off. Lee sits six shots off the lead, tied for ninth with Francesco Molinari, who improved on Thursday's 69 with a second-round 67.

Following his impressive first-round 68, McGinley dropped back to five-under after hitting 71 on Friday.

Johnnie Walker Championship leaderboard

Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles - second round complete © ESPN.co.uk

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