• Wales Open, Round Two

McDowell turns up heat at Celtic Manor

Graeme McDowell has fond memories of Celtic Manor © PA Photos

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Graeme McDowell is well placed to defend the Wales Open title after impressing again on the second day at Celtic Manor.

McDowell, who played a pivotal role at this course as Europe won the 2010 Ryder Cup, picked up five birdies and two eagles in a 68, leaving him in second at seven-under.

Swede Alex Noren is the leader at eight-under after a second successive 67 helped him take over at the top from South African Keith Horne.

Noren was level par for his round heading to the 14th tee but the former European Masters winner sunk a hat-trick of birdies and later made a four at the par-five last to end the day in an enviable position on eight-under-par.

Horne started the day in pole position following a dreamy first-round 64, but he now finds himself in a tie for fifth following a 73.

Miguel Angel Jimenez looks set to miss the cut after another disappointing round. After a lacklustre 73 on Thursday, the Spaniard needed to shoot low in order to make up ground on the leaders but his game deserted him once again. He went from the sublime to the ridiculous during a woefully inconsistent first nine holes, swapping two birdies and an eagle with two bogeys and a double bogey.

There was less drama on the way back to the clubhouse, Jimenez parring five of his nine holes. However, errors were still prevalent and a double-bogey six on his penultimate hole left him reeling on three-over for the tournament.

Johan Edfors is still in contention despite a patchy level-par 71. Two birdies from his first four holes gave him early momentum but back-to-back bogeys stopped him in his tracks. He hit back by picking up another shot before the turn but more loose play prevented him from posting a competitive total. Still, at three-under the Swede is still among the chasing pack.

Richie Ramsay, who earlier this week said he was 'feeling suicidal' after missing a play-off to decide a US Open place in favour of attending a friend's wedding, had a day to forget after he followed up an opening 70 with a 83. The Scot was well out of sorts, hitting four double bogeys and four bogeys to leave him 11-over after two days.

England's Barry Lane kept alive his hopes of becoming the European Tour's oldest-ever winner with a 69 to leave him well set going into the weekend on five-under. Starting his round on the back nine, there was to be no repeat heroics of his first-round efforts - when he went out in 30 - as he played conservatively for a net score of 34. Two birdies coming in helped give his card a healthy glow but a late bogey halted his progress.

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