BJORN INDIVIDUAL LEADER, UNITED STATES AT TOP OF TEAM TABLE AT HALFWAY

WORLD CUP REPORT FROM

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Thomas Björn holds a one shot lead at the halfway stage of the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf after another superlative display at Royal Melbourne Golf Club. 

The 42 year old Dane added a second round of 68 to his opening 66 to enter the weekend on eight under par, one stroke ahead of American Kevin Streelman. 

Streelman had surged four shots clear in the early stages of the second day, but paid a high price for a thinned bunker shot on the ninth hole, where he made a double bogey.

But the 35 year old can at least console himself with the knowledge that he and compatriot Matt Kuchar are on course to successfully defend the team title for America, after moving to ten under par at the midways stage of the US$ 8million event. 

The Danish team of Björn and Thorbjørn Olesen are the Americans’ closest challengers on seven under par, thanks chiefly to the exploits of the senior partner.  

Despite opening and a closing with a bogey, Björn was again delighted with the control he exerted over what he termed “one of the top three courses in the world”.  

He added: “There were a couple of things that happened on the golf course today that really tested me. I three-putted the first, so got caught a little bit there. But after that I patiently worked my way into the round and played very solid. Maybe not quite as good as yesterday on the front nine, but on the back nine I played awesome.

“Obviously it was disappointing to bogey the last, but if you’d asked me when the ball was in the air, I would’ve said you couldn’t have hit a better golf shot.  But you have got to take that on this course. Some bounces go your way, and some go against you on this course. Maybe I was a bit unfortunate, but I have to remember that I played some really, really good stuff on that back nine.”

Streelman is in hot pursuit of the leader after moving to seven under par courtesy of a round of 69, whilst third place is shared between home hero Jason Day and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos, who signed for rounds of 70 and 69 respectively. 

Santos said: “Because the course is so hard and firm, it’s so easy to make a bogey or even worse. So you just have to be very patient, and around the greens you have to be really hot. My short game today was very good, and it needs to be at the weekend too.”

  SCOTSWATCH
Scotland are lying in joint sixth position at halfway in the team table. Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher have combined for a par total of 284 (par 71) and are 10 strokes behind leaders United States.
The only countries ahead of the Scots pair are: USA, Denmark, Japan, Australia and Portugal.
Individually, Martin Laird has shot 67-72 for three-under-par 139 and a share of fifth place.
Stephen Gallacher is T35 on three-over 145 with rounds of 74 and 71

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