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Garcia keeps Major hopes alive

20/07/2007

Sergio Garcia leads by two strokes at the halfway stage of the Open at Carnoustie.

The Spaniard kept his dreams of winning his first Major alive after an even-par 71 to lie on six-under.

South Korean KJ Choi is in second place on four under after an impressive round of 69.

Manuel Angel Jimenez is a stroke further back after going around in 71. The Spaniard is tied for third with Mike Weir after the Canadian carded 68.

Tiger Woods needs to produce one of his greatest displays over the weekend after a miserable round of 74 to lie seven shots off the lead.

Lee Westwood is the best placed Briton after carding a 70. The Englishman had a bogey on the final hole to put him on one under.

Phil Mickelson has crashed out after a double bogey at the last put him six over par.

But it was Garcia's day with the 27-year-old becoming the clubhouse leader after a gutsy display.

The Spaniard produced a stunning shot on the first hole to save par after floating the ball over the sand to within a foot of the hole.

His overnight lead of two strokes was cut after bogeys on the 4th and 11th. But birdies on the 6th and 11th saw him regain his advantage.

Garcia curbed his flamboyant style with solid putts on the final four holes for par to strengthen his grip on the title.

Elsewhere, Colin Montgomerie just made the cut after making 74 to lie on five-over. Justin Rose fired 70 to stay in the tournament on three over.

Paul McGinley, the last European to win a Major seven years ago, is on level par after carding 75 to add to his opening score of 67.

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