Brier leads as scores soar

McIlroy tames Carnoustie to storm up the leaderboard

Last updated: 4th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Brier leads as scores soar

Brier: two-under at St Andrews

I've probably got the easiest course of the three tomorrow. I know the top guys are having to come here to Carnoustie, so if I can go out at Kingsbarns and do well I could be right up there.

Rory McIlroy
Quotes of the week

Dunhill Links Championship
Second round leaders
GB&Ire unless stated
-8 M Brier (Aut)
-7 R Karlsson (Swe)
-7 S Hansen (Den)
-7 R McIlroy
-7 M Kaymer (Ger)

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Austrian Markus Brier will take a one-shot lead into the third round of the Dunhill Links Championship after the Fife coast bit back on Friday.

After a day of low-scoring in benign conditions on Thursday, just three of the field of 160 broke 70 in round two. Brier was not one of them, but after adding a 70 at St Andrews to his opening 66 at Kingsbarns, he edged clear of a group of four players on seven-under.

Northern Irish teenager Rory McIlroy is one of those after a superb 69 at Carnoustie - the toughest of the three courses played this week. McIlroy, who was third in this event last year in only his second tournament as a professional, went to the turn in level par 36 but then birdied the 10th, 11th and 12th to improve to seven-under-par.

McIlroy said: "I'm doing as well as last year, I would love to repeat that finish and even go better."

"I need to get into position first to have a chance to do that... I've probably got the easiest course of the three tomorrow. I know the top guys are having to come here to Carnoustie, so if I can go out at Kingsbarns and do well I could be right up there."

Also tied for second are Ryder Cup players Soren Hansen (73) and Robert Karlsson (71) and German Martin Kaymer, who had to settle for a 72 around St Andrews after a 66 at Kingsbarns.

The other men to break 70 were Swede Magnus Carlsson, who had a best of the day 68 at St Andrews, and English veteran Paul Broadhurst, who bucked the trend by carding a 69 at Kingsbarns after his opening 76 at Carnoustie.

Order of Merit

Three-time major champion Padraig Harrington is just two off the lead after a 71 at St Andrews, as he seeks a third victory in the event which would almost certainly see him finish the year as European number one for the second time.

The Open and USPGA champion currently heads the Order of Merit by £180,000 from Lee Westwood.

The Englishman is alongside Harrington on six-under-par, with second-placed Karlsson also still in with a shout of lifting the Harry Vardon Trophy.

The 6ft 5in Swede is third in the money list another £100,000 behind Westwood, but the first prize on Sunday is £432,000 and three other lucrative tournaments remain this season.

Tournament leader Brier believes victory on Sunday would be his greatest golfing achievement, surpassing even his first European Tour title on home soil in 2006.

The Austrian said: "My first win was great, coming in Austria and at my home club. Emotion-wise that will always be my highlight.

"But with the strength of the field and the toughness of the courses we play this week, winning here would probably be my best achievement."