Kaymer eyes up a long-awaited win

Former world No 1 Martin Kaymer fired a secondround 70 to stay within one shot of the lead as he looks for a first win in seven years at the Austrian Open.

The German was top of the global rankings this time 10 years ago, eight months after claiming a first major at the US PGA Championship.

The putt to ensure Europe retained the Ryder Cup at the “Miracle of Medinah” in 2012 and a second major triumph at the US Open in 2014 followed, but Kaymer has been absent from the winner’s circle since that eight-shot win at Pinehurst.

He said coming into this week in Atzenbrugg that he felt ready to win again on the European Tour and a second-round 70 left him at six under after 36 holes, one shot behind Spanish leader Alejandro Canizares.

Canizares joined Kaymer in shooting a 70, a score also matched by American John Catlin, who shared second.

Kaymer had a good chance to join the lead on the par-three 18th but could not hole from inside 10ft, having to settle for five birdies and three bogeys.

“I would rather lead the tournament but I think it was a decent start to the golf tournament, I would say,” he told europeantour. com

“Today I missed a few opportunities and a couple of silly mistakes unfortunately happened, so I can build on my solid play and hopefully I can avoid a couple of mistakes over the weekend.”

Canizares dropped three shots in his opening two holes but recovered with seven birdies, while Catlin made four gains with two dropped shots.

South African Justin Walters was at five under, a shot clear of England’s Richard Mansell and two ahead of Scot David Drysdale.

Grant Forrest, Craig Howie and Euan Walker all made the cut but David Law missed out by one shot.

Leading scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, Par 72)

137 Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 67 70 138 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 68 70, John Catlin (USA) 68 70

139 Justin Walters (Rsa) 71 68

140 Richard Mansell 69 71, Maximilian

Kieffer (Ger) 72 68, Shiv Chawrasia (Ind) 72 68, Jacques Kruyswijk (Rsa) 68 72

141 Joost Luiten (Ned) 71 70, Austin Bautista (Aus) 74 67, David Drysdale 70 71, Adrian Meronk (Pol) 71 70, Chase Hanna (USA) 72 69

142 Zander Lombard (Rsa) 72 70, Jeff Winther (Den) 69 73, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 70 72, Marcus Armitage 73 69, Rikard Karlberg (Swe) 68 74, Nicolai Hoejgaard (Den) 70 72

143 Kurt Kitayama (USA) 71 72, Shubhankar Sharma (Ind) 75 68, Grant Forrest 70 73, Soeren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 71, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 70 73, Garrick Higgo (Rsa) 72 71, Adrien Saddier (Fra) 71 72, Garrick Porteous 75 68, Wil Besseling (Ned) 72 71, Pedro Oriol (Spa) 69 74, Daniel Gavins 69 74

Other qualifiers included:

146 Euan Walker 77 69

Non-qualifiers included:

148 Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 74 74, David Law 75 73

149 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 75 74, Ewen Ferguson 70 79

150 Daniel Young 73 77

152 Scott Jamieson 79 73

155 Liam Johnston 79 76