Trio lead as race hots up

Dyson: in contention for victory

Second-round leaderboard:
(GB & Ire unless stated)
G Boyd -9
J Guerrier (Fra) -9
D Lynn -9
G Coetzee (SA) -7
M Foster -7
S Gallacher -7

Also see

• Opinion
• Rankings
• Golf on Sky
• Ryder Cup standings
• £5 Free Bet

There is a three-way tie at the top at the halfway stage of the Johnnie Walker Championship with English duo Gary Boyd and David Lynn and France's Julien Guerrier all locked together at nine-under-par.

Meanwhile, the race for the remaining Ryder Cup places is still intriguingly poised with Simon Dyson maintaining his hopes of the win he needs with a second round of 70.

That left the Yorkshireman just three shots off the pace at six-under, although his hopes were dented by the fact that both Miguel Angel Jimenez and Peter Hanson also enjoyed good days.

The former shot 68 and the latter 69 to end up alongside Dyson at six-under after 36 holes.

The Spaniard and Swede are the two men currently filling the final two places in Colin Montgomerie's European team and to edge them out Dyson must win and then hope either Jimenez finishes outside the top nine or Hanson outside the top 43.

But Dyson remains upbeat and stated after his round: "If I play the best 36 holes of my life I'll play in the best tournament of my life.

"I know what I've got to do and I'll just give it a go. If I'm three behind even with nine holes to go I still fancy my chances."

The only other man in the field still capable of qualifying by right is Alvaro Quiros who must also win to stand a chance, but he endured a frustrating day, getting to three-under but then falling away over his back nine to finish at one-under.

Francesco Molinari, who sealed his spot for Celtic Manor on Thursday, continued his impressive form with a 70 to join the nine-man group at six-under and was joined there by brother Edoardo.

Food for thought

The older of the Molinari siblings is now relying on a wildcard to make October's clash with America, but the Scottish Open winner gave European captain Montgomerie further food for thought with a 68 that included a late birdie surge.

Interestingly, Montgomerie's assistant Paul McGinley is also in the posse at six-under and could yet have a big say on who qualifies for the team.

The Dubliner was another to shoot 70 and admitted afterwards that he would be talking to Montgomerie over the weekend about the wildcard situation.

"Obviously they are going to be extremely difficult," he commented. "I've talked to Monty quite a bit.

"He said he wants to have a big communication with his backroom team and he's been true to his word so far.

"Having said that, I don't know how much say we're going to have in the picks.

"Certainly he's going to ask our opinions and we'd be a sounding board for him, but at the end of the day he's the one who will make the tough decisions.

"We're going to his house for dinner and then I'm sure we'll meet again come the final putt on Sunday."

Monty misses cut

Montgomerie will the have weekend to focus solely on the decisions ahead of him after a disappointing second round of 76 left him at three-over-par and the wrong side of the cut-line.

Up at the other end of the leaderboard, three men share second at seven-under-par; Scot Stephen Gallacher (70), England's Mark Foster (67) and George Coetzee of South Africa (68).

Also in the extended group at six-under are Robert Rock (71), 2007 champion Marc Warren (70) and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy (70).