Karlsson displays head for heights

PGA Championship and European Masters: Defending champion Robert Karlsson continued his love affair with the European Masters yesterday, firing a four-under-par 67 to move one stroke clear after the second round.

The 34-year-old Swede, who led from start to finish to clinch last year's title, finished at 10-under-par 132, ahead of second-placed Argentine Eduardo Romero, who won the event in 2000.

South Africans, led by world number two Ernie Els, filled three of the next seven spots on the leaderboard at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Joint overnight leader Els was not at his best, but two birdies in his last three holes for a two-under-par 69 took him to eight under with playing partner Michael Campbell of New Zealand, who posted a 67.

Els's compatriot Trevor Immelman joined them on 134 by carding a 66, with another South African, Richard Sterne, among a group of four at seven under after carding a best-of-the-week 64.

The Irish challenge was reduced from five to two, with only Ronan Rafferty and Philip Walton inside the 142 cut mark. Rafferty shot a 71 and Walton a 69 to end the day on on 140, but Peter Lawrie on 145, Damien McGrane, on 148, and Graeme McDowell, on 149, all missed the cut.

While Karlsson double-bogeyed the third and then bogeyed the fifth to delay his surge back to the top of the leaderboard, the 49-year-old Romero made just one mistake in his 67.

Els is looking to maintain his position on top of Europe's money-list but admitted to not hitting top form. "I didn't play the par-fives very well today," said the big-hitting South African. "It was a good finish but quite a scrappy day."

Disappointment at not being handed President's Cup wildcards by International team captain Gary Player for the match against Jack Nicklaus's US team in South Africa in November is driving both Campbell and Immelman.

South African Tim Clark got the nod from Player after tying for fourth last month in the US PGA Championship. South Korean KJ Choi was Player's other wildcard selection.

"Part of my motivation is to win to prove a point, not just to Gary but myself," said Campbell, who is bidding for his second victory of the year.

Immelman voiced similar sentiments. "It was a bitter pill to swallow and I was really proud to finish top-10 at Firestone (WGC NEC Invitational) the week after the selections."

Spain's Sergio Garcia was five strokes off the second-round lead after a 70 and another player looking for early Ryder Cup points this week, Colin Montgomerie, is six behind after carding a 68.