GOLF EUROPEAN TOUR:AMERICAN TODD Hamilton's decision to join the European Tour could bring him a first victory since the 2004 British Open Championship this weekend.
The 44-year-old, now down at 545th in the world and with only two cuts made in his last 19 events, is just a stroke behind Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Indian Shiv Kapur at the halfway stage of the KLM Open at Hilversum.
Hamilton, seven under par after rounds of 66 and 67, said: “I don’t have full status on the US Tour any more, so I looked at the schedule and thought I’d come to places I’ve never been to. When I got here it wasn’t the type of course I enjoy playing. You need to drive well and I haven’t been doing that as well as I would have liked.
“I thought I’d struggle, but a lot of times whatever you think is going to happen doesn’t happen.
“I didn’t hit a lot of fairways, but it seemed like I always had a good angle to the flag and everything worked out.”
Colsaerts had opened the event with a career-low 62, but was able to add only a level-par 70. Losing a ball in the heather at the 476-yard sixth – his 15th – cost the 27-year-old a double-bogey six and he finished with another dropped shot.
Kapur, also seeking his first victory on the circuit, managed only three birdies compared to six and an eagle in his first-round 64, but his only bogey came at the short 15th and so he handed in a 68.
Damien McGrane built solidly on his impressive showing from the first day, carding an impressive three-under-par 67 – which included six birdies – to move onto five under par, just three shots off the leaders. Clear favourite for the title is German Martin Kaymer, who in his first tournament since winning the USPGA title four weeks ago has started with two 67s to be just two behind.
Ryder Cup team-mates Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari are seven back after rounds of 71 and 74 respectively. Fisher bogeyed four of his first six holes, took six at the long 12th and had to wait until the final green for a birdie.
Peter Lawrie is three under following a 68, Darren Clark shot a 71 for a one-under tally of 139 and is joined on the same tally by Gareth Maybin and Michael Hoey who both shot 67. Shane Lowry (69) and Simon Thornton (71) are both level par but Paul McGinley (73) and Gary Murphy (73) finished four over and missed the cut.
