Kaymer leads by one as top stars find form

Martin Kaymer surged into contention for his first victory in four years as several of Europe’s star names rediscovered their top form in the Italian Open yesterday.

Kaymer, whose last win brought him a second major title in the 2014 US Open, carded a second round of 63 at Gardagolf to finish 11 under par, a shot ahead of Graeme McDowell, Danny Willett, Thomas Pieters, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and home favourite Francesco Molinari.

But after another day of low scoring, the entire field will be separated by just seven shots heading intotheweekend, withthe halfway cut falling at four under par.

“It’s been a while since I played that solid,” Kaymer said after a round which included five straight birdies from the 13th.

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve won majors and had the situations I had at the Ryder Cup, it’s really exciting to be in a position that you can win a golf tournament again.”

McDowell’s last win came in 2015 and he was named as a Ryder Cup vice-captain last week, but the former US Open champion has not given up hope of qualifying for the team instead after missing out in 2016.

Former Masters champion Will ett reached a career-high of ninth in the world after claiming his first major title at Augusta National in 2016, but has since plummeted to 462 nd after injuries and a loss of form.

The 30-year-old had missed the cut in all but one of his nine starts in 2018, but added a 67 to his opening 65 and has yet to drop a shot this week.

Molinari’s second consecutive error-free 66 means he has now gone 80 holes without a bogey, his last dropped shot coming on the 10th hole of the second round during his BMW PGA Championship victory at Went worth.

Drumoig’s Connor Syme is three-under after a second round 71 and sits alongside fellow Scot MarcWarren.

Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil is four-over par after successive rounds of 73, while Aberdonian Richie Ramsay sits on one under as he followed up an opening round 67 with a 74,

Top Scot is Scott Jamieson on four under thanks to two 69s. Stephen Gallacher is one-under.