Madrid, Oct 25: Revitalised Australian Peter Fowler made his latest visit to a European Tour leaderboard when his Madrid Open second round five-under-par 66 earned him a share of top place.
That put him alongside former British Open champion Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher of Britain on nine-under-par.
Fowler, 44, disappeared off the golfing scene three years after winning the 1993 BMW International Open and was on the brink of giving up altogether before deciding in 2000 to try to claw his way back. Since then he has steadily improved, last year keeping his tour card by finishing 63rd on the European money list. This year has been even better. He lies 45th and plays in the big-money Volvo Masters next week. He has been rebuilding his game and he felt the last piece of the jigsaw, his putting, was at last in place. After a faultless card with five birdies to match Lawrie, who had set the target with an equally flawless 64, Fowler said: "It was always going to be a long way back from 1996 when I just wasn't good enough any more.


"I've had to rebuild completely, getting people's advice about all different parts of the game.


"I've retaught myself how to putt, and this season and today tells me I'm on the right track."


While Fowler's changes have been gradual, Lawrie decided to change his putting style in tournament play only this week, and also reaped dividends.


"I'm 47th on the order of merit and sixth in greens in regulation," said Lawrie. "It doesn't add up.


"I was probably due a dodgy year with the putter but it's been atrocious. I've putted like a dog and I'm 154th on the putting statistics.


"So my coach and I decided to try a new drill, watching the ball instead of the putter."


Overnight leader Paul Casey stood at 12-under after nine holes of a delayed second round. Two hours were lost in the morning to frost.


Putting was the theme for all three leaders because Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, denied himself the outright early lead by incurring a one-shot penalty.


"I was going through my putting routine on the 13th, taking a couple of practice strokes as usual, and scuffed the ball on the way back," said Gallacher, who at least covered his misdemeanour by chipping in twice.


"It rolled about a quarter of an inch. I replaced after getting a ruling, because I didn't want to do what Davis Love did at the TPC (in 1997). He putted out without replacing the ball and got disqualified."


Swede Marten Olander held fourth place in the clubhouse, one shot back, after a 65. Spain's Sergio Garcia, with a 71, and Angel Cabrera, after a 68, were a further stroke adrift.


Leading completed scores after the second round of the Madrid Open golf tournament at the par-71, 6,967 yard Club de Campo course on Friday.


Play was delayed due to frost, consequently only half the field completed their second round (Britain unless stated, a-denotes amateur): 133 Peter Fowler (Australia) 67 66, Stephen Gallacher 69 64, Paul Lawrie 69 64 134 Nick O'Hern (Australia) 67 67, Marten Olander (Sweden) 69 65 135 Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 67 68, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 64 71 136 Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands) 69 67, Lee Westwood 68 68 137 Andrew Coltart 69 68, a-Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spain) 67 70, David Park 74, 63, Miles Tunnicliff 67 70 138 Brian Davis 70 68, Kenneth Ferrie 72 66, Anders Hansen (Denmark) 71 67, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 65 73


Leading uncompleted scores: 129 Paul Casey after 15 holes 135 Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 16 137 Pierre Fulke (Sweden) 14 138 Thomas Levet (France) 16 Gregory Havret (France) 15 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 15 Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 15 Peter O'Malley (Australia) 13


Bureau Report