Golf-Goosen bugged but holds on to Munich lead (Reuters)
June 26, 2009
By Norman Dabell
MUNICH, June 26 (Reuters) – Retief Goosen was plagued byinsects during his second round of four-under 68 but they didnot bug him enough to stop the South African clinging on to aone-shot advantage in the BMW International Open on Friday.
First round front-runner Goosen moved to 12-under-par 132, astroke ahead of Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen, who produced an eagleand five birdies during his second round 65 to nearly catch thetwo times U.S. Open champion.
Britons David Drysdale, who matched Goosen’s 64 of theprevious day and Nick Dougherty, who carded a 65, were on10-under.
Goosen could not repeat his fast start of the first roundand said he had a reason. “I got a bit carried away by bugs,” hetold reporters.
“I was wearing a green shirt and that’s not normally theirfavourite colour but it was this time. It was scary. The waythey were swarming I couldn’t see the ball. I put on myrainproof top to keep them off. They don’t seem to like blue somuch.”
Goosen’s first round 64 had hinged on taking only 26 puttswith a new putter, but he ran up 31 for his 68.
“I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in this time,”added the 40-year-old, who is searching for his 15th EuropeanTour title.
While Goosen has been through a quiet spell since his lastsuccess, the 2007 Qatar Masters, Kjeldsen won the AndalucianOpen three months ago and lies 10th on Europe’s money-list.
Bernhard Langer trying, at the 19th attempt, to claim theonly German title he has not won, is in a group four strokes offthe lead.
Langer, 51, finished second two years ago and he helped hiscause this time by chipping in from a bunker to save par on thepenultimate hole.
The German, seven times a winner on the Champions tour,played alongside 20-year-old Rory McIlroy (67), now 16th in theworld rankings after a 10th place finish in last week’s major,and is two shots better than the Northern Irishman.
Last year’s winner Martin Kaymer missed the cut.
(Editing by Alison Wildey
To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Tee it up with Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Golf 09
