Old dogs up to the old tricks

GOLF: Two men with their sights set on over-50s golf threaten to upset the European Tour title chase in the Madrid Open at Club de Campo.

Des Smyth, 50 next February, yesterday waltzed round in 63 to get within a stroke of compatriot Padraig Harrington at the halfway stage.

Sam Torrance, 10 months short of his half-century and still on a high after masterminding Europe's epic Ryder Cup triumph, shot 66 to tuck in one further back.

As the overnight leader and 2000 top-earner, Lee Westwood, slipped to a 70 for 134, Harrington, chasing a hat-trick of Tour triumphs in the Spanish capital, added a 66 to his opening 65 to move 11-under-par on 131, four clear of rival Retief Goosen in the duel to finish as this year's number one.

But it was the day of the old dogs, and Smyth, winner of the event in 1993 and a candidate for the Ryder Cup captaincy at the K Club in 2006, and who required only 11 putts in a homeward 29, stole the show.

The man who became the Tour's oldest winner at 48 years and 34 days (20 days older than Neil Coles) in last year's Madeira Open could not hide his excitement after shooting birdies on five of the last six holes.

"I go to the regional qualifying for the US Seniors Tour in two weeks in Jacksonville, Florida, and this is just the confidence boost I needed to get into the finals and pick up one of the eight spots available," he said.

"It's going to be tough, but the form I am showing going into it augurs well," added Smyth, who was on the 1981 Ryder Cup team with Torrance.

The Scot, another who wields the broomhandle putter, shrugged off a 90-minute wait because of fog to be first man out to finish a long day with a sprightly birdie hat-trick.

"My mind was obviously somewhere else leading up to the Ryder Cup and a bit of it still is to be honest," he said. "We're all on a high and I hope it lasts for ever.

"I've had so many congratulations my right hand feels like Mike Tyson's, but my game is pretty solid and I'll find out how competitive I am over the weekend."

Gambling man Sam, with two Tour wins to his credit, has a wager on the outcome: "I get to bet £100 a week with Ladbrokes, proceeds to charity, and it's on Westwood. Odds of 40 to 1 were ridiculous. But it's each-way, so charity should still get something if I win instead.

"I'm expecting the boys to come out with all guns blazing. There'll be no respect for the captain. Whatever happens, it won't go close to winning the Ryder Cup."

Harrington, who holed two big putts for twos, ironically "went to sleep" to bogey the par three ninth (his last), where the prize for an ace is a king-sized "Heavenly Bed" worth $10,000.

"I was going great for 13 holes but tired a bit and lost my focus," explained Harrington, who trails €54,000 behind reigning European number one Goosen atop the money list.

"My mind went elsewhere and I just let it slip past. It's frustrating, but I will aim not to repeat the same mistake on Saturday and Sunday," he added.

The Dubliner was eight clear of the South African after turning in 31, but Goosen fought back with three birdies and an eagle to halve the margin.

Rising South African star Trevor Immelman, pipped at the post in the French Open and by Graeme McDowell in the Scandinavian Masters this year, birdied two of the last three holes to shoot 65 and draw alongside Harrington on top of the leaderboard.

"That 15-footer was in the dark," said the delighted South African of his putt at the last. "If I keep knocking on the door then I'm sure it will soon open if I keep doing the things right that I'm doing now.

"My two rounds here have been my best tee-to-green for a long time and if I keep setting up the chances then I'm hopeful I can pull something off."

Unfortunately for McDowell, his form deserted him yesterday, after a solid opening 68. A triple-bogey seven at the 10th and a double at the 14th helped to leave the Ulsterman six over for the day when he was forced to stop play on the 16th. He will probably need to birdie his final three holes to make the projected cut at level par.

If he fails, he will have some Irish company for his free weekend, as Paul McGinley added a 76 to his opening 69 to finish on three over par.

Australian Adam Scott, last to finish on the other side of the course before play was halted, also shot 65 to move alongside Smyth at 10 under par. The Qatar Masters champion, needing a birdie to tie the lead at 18, saw his 10-footer rim the hole.

Dutchman Maarten Lafeber was also 10 under with three holes to complete this morning.