• Johnnie Walker Championship, Round Two

Fisher excels as Jimenez defends his Ryder Cup place

Julien Guerrier fired a brilliant 67 to take the clubhouse lead on day two © Getty Images

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Ross Fisher was the big mover on day two of the Johnnie Walker Championship, while Miguel Angel Jimenez showed his fierce determination to hold onto his Ryder Cup spot.

The newest recruits to Colin Montgomerie's European team, Fisher and Francesco Molinari, appeared to play with freedom as they made their way up the field to move well into contention with two rounds to go.

They will need to catch the three men - Julien Guerrier, Gary Boyd and David Lynn - who are currently tied for the lead at nine under, however.

Fisher had a sparkling morning, reaching the turn in only 30 strokes, though he trailed playing partner Molinari by one after the Italian helped himself to four birdies on the back nine.

The Englishman showed the kind of form that took him close to achieving the European Tour's first-ever 59 at the 3 Irish Open, with a string of birdies on his first nine holes.

His hot-streak started at the 11th and then after he picked up another shot at the 12th, he hit four birdies on the trot from 14. A ten foot putt at the last would have been the icing on the cake but his stunning effort just lipped out. Four bogeys on the way in tarnished his card, although he still signed for a five-under-par 67.

Elsewhere Jimenez, currently in the final automatic qualification place for the Ryder Cup, shot a 68 to pull level with rival Simon Dyson - who could steal Jimenez's place in the European team if he wins the tournament - at six under.

Alvaro Quiros is another who could storm into the European team at Celtic Manor by winning at Gleneagles, but he is showing no signs of achieving that target after reaching one under through 36 holes.

Molinari, who's place at in the Ryder Cup was sealed when Ross McGowan withdrew with a shoulder injury, carded a two-under-par 70 to sit three shots adrift of the leaders. His brother Edoardo, a contender for one of Montgomerie's wildcard picks, joins him at six under.

Scotland's Stephen Gallacher was steady, without being spectacular, but a 70 leaves him well set to go for broke on the weekend. A bunch of pars - 14 in total - showed there was nothing wrong with his consistency, but he will be hoping to drain a few more birdie putts over the next couple of days.

Soren Hansen showed what he's got in his locker with a supremely controlled 65. The Dane put his opening 74 to one side to dominate the course, bagging eight birdies in all to give him every chance of earning his first win of the season.

Peter Hanson, eighth on the European points list and set to take his place in the Ryder Cup, is six under.

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