Golf: Oldcorn close to ending long drought

Veteran Scot Andrew Oldcorn played himself into contention for a third European tour title yesterday with a six-under 66 at the PGA Championship.

Oldcorn, aged 41, double-bogeyed the 16th at Wentworth, England, but his score still took him to 12-under for the tournament, and left him two strokes ahead of the field after two rounds.

It was a double-bogey five years ago at Druids Glen in Ireland that cost Oldcorn his third title when his mistake at the final hole in the Irish Open handed fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie first prize.

It took Oldcorn two years to get over his collapse and he has not been in the top-50 on the money-list since, slumping to 110th and 92nd in his last two years.

But yesterday, the English-born Scot hit form, his nine birdies amply cancelling out his blemish on the 16th and an opening bogey.

"I'm striving to get the consistency the top players have and I'm getting close," said Oldcorn, a one-time sufferer of myalgic enchephalomyelitis (ME), which causes fatigue. "It's something that rankles with me that I've had such a poor return on my game over the years. The Irish Open five years ago was a classic case when I double-bogeyed the last and gave the title to Monty.

"I'm now somewhere in my career where I have a chance to get into position again.

"Hopefully if I do, I'll think immediately what I did wrong the last time. I just want to have another chance.

"I'm not too old. Mark O'Meara won two majors when he was 41."

Oldcorn led first-round frontrunner Angel Cabrera, of Argentina, Australian Stephen Leaney and Briton Phillip Price by two strokes.

Leaney charged into contention with a 64, only a stroke off the course record equalled by Cabrera on Saturday, finishing birdie-eagle.

Cabrera recovered from a triple-bogey on the 15th where he was twice in trees, with birdies on the last three holes for a 71.

Price birdied three of the last six holes to stay in contention for his second win of the year.

Vijay Singh's 65 hauled the Fijian, winner of the World Matchplay title at Wentworth four years ago, to within six of the lead with six-times major champion Nick Faldo, who had his best round for nearly four months with a 66.

New Zealander Michael Campbell was eight off the pace on 140 after two 70s.

Defending champion Montgomerie was four strokes more than the 65 he sought, but made the cut by a stroke on 142.

Reigning European No 1 Lee Westwood missed by three, though, citing his current swing changes.

* Australian Brad Hughes did not hit a shot yesterday, but retained the lead after the second round of the $US3.5 million Kemper Open.

Thirty-three players, who were unable to finish the opening round on Saturday, returned to the soggy course yesterday and after a further six-hour rain delay finally got to play.

But when all was done, the leaderboard remained unchanged, with Hughes in front at nine-under 133, one stroke ahead of Americans Frank Lickliter and Lee Porter.

Going into the last two rounds today, New Zealander Philip Tataurangi is three shots off the pace on 136 and Frank Nobilo is a further two shots back. Grant Waite missed the cut after rounds of 73 and 72.

* Three players shared the lead in the United States Senior PGA Championship at Paramus, New Jersey, yesterday. Jim Thorpe, Tom Watson and Bob Gilder were all on nine-under 207.

They were followed by Allen Doyle (208), Bruce Fleisher (211) and Stewart Ginn (212).

New Zealanders Bob Charles and Simon Owen recorded 224 and 228 respectively.

- AGENCIES