Fisher hauls in a 61

England's Ross Fisher stormed into a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the Irish Open after a 10-under-par second round 61 in Killarney.

The 29-year-old had six successive birdies for a front-nine 29, then four more in a row from the 11th.

That left him needing to pick up just two more shots from the last four holes to become the first man to break 60 in a European Tour event.

But he missed from six feet at the 15th, only parred the par five 16th as well after driving into sand and failed with birdie attempts on the last two.

Nevertheless, it was the lowest round of his Tour career and re-ignites his Ryder Cup hopes after a low-key season following the last of this three career wins at the World Matchplay in Spain last November.

"I was standing on the 14th green and it (59) did sort of enter my mind," said Fisher, who could climb from 13th to sixth in the cup standings by winning on Sunday.

"I was quite strong mentally to try and block it out of my mind. I just tried to give myself four chances and I did that, but it wasn't meant to be."

As for making it into Colin Montgomerie's side he added: "This is the start of three big weeks, so I just need to go out and play how I know I can - and fingers crossed."

Log-jam

Fisher is three shots clear of Italian Francesco Molinari, who added a 66 to his opening 67, while Padraig Harrington (67) and Rory McIlroy (68) are in a clutch of nine players in a log-jam two shots further back on seven-under.

But first round leader David Howell slipped back into the pack. His opening 64 hinted at a return to the form that took him into the world's top 10 four years ago, but he could not sustain it, carding a second round 75.

But that was nothing compared to the travails endured by Jamie Elson and Hennie Otto - who both took a 12 on one hole.

Elson's came on the 211-yard sixth, where he put four balls in the ditch short of the green, while at the long seventh South African Otto blasted four shots wildly right and was forced to dip back into his bag each time.

They finished with rounds of 84 and 83 respectively, Elson signing off with a triple bogey seven just to round off a miserable day.