• BMW International Open

Kaymer misses the cut as leaderboard tightens

This is Martin Kaymer's first missed cut of the season on the European Tour © Getty Images

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Martin Kaymer has missed the cut in front of his home crowd at the BMW International Open - the German's first tournament since winning his second major championship at the US Open.

Kaymer, who stormed to an eight-shot victory at Pinehurst two weeks ago, was always going to be up against it after a double-bogey at the par-4 fifth hole, but three dropped shots in a row straight after the turn had the 29-year-old needing a miracle to survive.

"[This] was a big step for me to accept that you have golf courses that don't suit your play, so it's okay for me," said Kaymer, who was born in nearby Duesseldorf.

"It is how it is. I did my very best and level par was the best I could do."

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In the end, the cut fell at three-under par - just three shots off a European Tour record low - with Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Danny Willett, Pablo Larrazabal and Emiliano Grillo all tied for the lead at 12-under.

But it might have been so much better for Cabrera-Bello. The Spaniard led by two at 13-under when he reached the par-5 seventh, but an inadvertent double-hit while playing his third shot cost him a shot.

Shortly after Cabrera-Bello rolled in a bogey putt, playing partner Willett drew level with a two-putt birdie to draw level. Both players, who started on the 10th, parred eight and nine to remain locked after opening rounds of 64 and 68.

Larrazabal, also starting at 10, joined the leaders thanks to a round-of-the-day 63 thanks to a run of five straight birdies from the 13th complemented by further gains at two, three, five and eight.

Larrazabal's flawless round was only matched by Englishman Paul Waring, who carded seven birdies and an eagle at the par-5 15th.

Grillo carded a second successive 66 to complete the four-way tie at the top, with Branden Grace, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Scotland's Craig Lee part of the cluster two shots adrift.

Another Englishman, Andy Sullivan, was a birdie away from joining the group at 12-under. Instead, he found the water at the par-4 10th - his 18th - and walked off with a double-bogey to fall back into the group at nine-under which, along with Waring, includes Simon Dyson, Michael Hoey and Shane Lowry.

World No.3 Henrik Stenson leads a group of 10 at eight-under, which includes Thomas Bjorn as well as four Englishmen - Tyrell Hatton, Sam Walker, Matt Nixon and Eddie Pepperell.

BMW International Open leaderboard

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