Seve saves face but fails to make Munich cut

Seve Ballesteros restored some of his battered pride today - but still made an early exit from the BMW International Open.

Seve Ballesteros restored some of his battered pride today - but still made an early exit from the BMW International Open.

Ballesteros slumped to a first round 84 in Munich to lie last of the 156-strong field by five shots in his first event for almost four months.

The five-time major winner improved by 12 shots this morning with a second round 72, but at 12 over was 27 shots off the lead and at least 14 outside the likely halfway cut.

It means the 46-year-old has made two cuts in six events this season.

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Ballesteros at least had some illustrious company on his way to the airport, Nick Faldo finishing one over par after a second-round 72 and Jose Maria Olazabal one shot worse off.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Sweden's Robert Karlsson had set the early clubhouse target of 15 under par.

Karlsson, winner here in 1997 and defending his European Masters title next week, fired two eagles and five birdies in his second round 64 for a halfway total of 129.

That gave him a two-shot lead over France's Raphael Jacquelin who added a 69 to his opening course record equalling 62, with another Swede, Peter Hedblom, a shot further back.

Best of the Irish is Paul McGinley on seven-under. Gary Murphy is on three-under, Peter Lawrie one-under, Graeme McDowell par, and Damien McGrane one-over.