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Westwood remains in contention

14/09/2007

Lee Westwood trails leader Soren Hansen by one stroke at the halfway stage of the Mercedes Benz Championship in Cologne.

The Englishman carded a disappointing round of 73 to lie in second place on ten under.

Denmark's Hansen fired a four-under par round of 68 after five birdies and just one bogey.

England's Simon Khan is tied in third place on seven-under with compatriot Simon Dyson and home favourite Bernhard Langer.

Westwood failed to get close to his stunning first round of 61 yesterday which had put him at the top of the leaderboard.

He made an explosive start with two birdies and an eagle on the front nine. But the Englishman then notched up four bogeys in the last eight holes to lose the lead.

Westwood said it was always going to be difficult matching his opening round.

"Your expectations are high but you don't generally follow up a 61 with anything better," Westwood said.

"I missed too many fairways but I didn't get much out of my round, the wind got up and the greens firmed up.

"I also had a bad night, I was all stuffed up (with a cold) and my balance felt a bit upset."

Meanwhile, 32-year-old Hansen said today's round was reward for his hard work over the last three months.

"My putting is so much better and my short game is that little bit sharper, they're ingredients for that big package," Hansen said.
"Lee Westwood in form, though, is always a dangerous man."