Scottish trio have 56-year-old leader Jimenez in sights at halfway stage in Austrian Open

Golden oldie Miguel Angel Jimenez stormed to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage in the Austrian Open but has three Scots chasing him in the first European Tour event in four months.

“We’re doing well. We must be doing quarantine right in Scotland,” joked Craig Howie of sitting in the top ten along with Marc Warren and Connor Syme at Diamond Country Club, near Vienna.

Jimenez, who is already the oldest winner in European Tour history, carded ten birdies as the 56-year-old Spaniard backed up an opening 68 with a 65 to move into a two-shot lead on 11 under par.

“It feels great,” said Jimenez, a 21-time winner on the circuit, the last of which came at the age of 50 years and 133 days in the 2014 Spanish Open.

“Four months without competing, it’s nice getting back into a tournament and feeling the tension again. I was excited to get back. I miss the competition.”

He’s made 15 birdies so far on his return to action, having entered this week’s event as he prepares for the Champions Tour, his main priority these days, to restart.

Three-time European Tour winner Warren and Howie, who is playing in just his second event on the circuit, are in a five-strong group on nine under.

“Overall, it was a pretty solid day, nothing overly spectacular but pleased with a solid round again,” said Warren of his 69, which contained four birdies and one bogey.

Howie picked up four birdies in the first six holes to lead outright before mixing an eagle with three bogeys in the remainder of his round.

“It was tricky because it’s so warm,” said the Peebles man, who has matched Warren’s two opening efforts. “Having spent quarantine in the UK, we’re not used to this. It meant the ball was going a really long way and it was difficult to hit the right distance.”

Syme, who finished second in the Shot Clock Masters at the same venue when he was a rookie two seasons ago, recovered from a shaky spell in the middle of his round to keep the leader in his sights.

Craig Howie is joint second after carding a second-round 69.