Time of the essence at Shot Clock Masters

Finland’s Mikko Korhonen will take a slender lead into the third round of the inaugural Shot Clock Masters in Austria, where none of the field was penalised for slow play for the second day running. Korhonen has not dropped a shot in 36 holes after adding a 67 to his opening 68 at Diamond Country Club for a halfway total of nine under par, a shot ahead of England’s Steve Webster and South African Justin Walters.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez had been four shots clear when he reached 10 under par, but the 54-year-old dropped three shots in his last three holes to finish seven under alongside home favourite Matthias Schwab, Ashun Wu and Jeppe Huldahl.

This week’s event in Atzenbrugg near Vienna is the first in professional golf to time every shot from all 120 players in the field, with a digital clock operated by a referee mounted on a buggy which follows each group.

Players have 50 seconds to take their shot if they are first to play, including tee shots on par threes, or 40 seconds for tee shots on other holes or when second or third to play.

They face a one-shot penalty for each bad time incurred, but none were handed out as the players quickly adapted to the experimental format.

“I love it,” said world No 709 Webster, who is battling to regain his full playing privileges on the European Tour. “I’ve always been a quick player and I couldn’t wait to get into the tournament.

“I was about 25th reserve a few weeks ago and I was crossing my fingers to get in. I love quick golf and this is how it should be. Everyone is so positive about it and how it’s gone so far.”

The last of Webster’s two European Tour wins came back in 2007

Northern Irish teenager Tom Mckibbin missed the cut on his European Tour debut, the 15-yearold amateur adding a 78 to his opening 71 to finish six over par.