Del Moral profits while wind blows leaders off-course

(EPA)

Carlos Del Moral capitalised on other players' mistakes to seize an early second-round lead in the Estoril Open yesterday.

The Spaniard began the round three shots adrift of the joint overnight leaders, Irishman Damien McGrane and England's Luke Goddard, but returned to the clubhouse with a surprise two-shot advantage.

As McGrane and Goddard struggled in swirling wind at the Penha Longa Club, Del Moral shot a seven-under 65 to better his opening 67 and reach 12 under. The outsider, ranked 524th in the world and reliant on invites to get into most European tournaments, built his round on a run of six birdies in eight holes.

England's Steve Webster, who won the Portuguese Masters in 2008, moved into second place after a straight run of three birdies from the first hole, his 10th of the day, contributed to a second successive 67 and 10-under total.

At times during the second morning, the overnight leaders reached 11 under, only to slip back due to costly mistakes. Goddard double-bogeyed the par-four 11th after driving into trees and losing his ball. Two holes later he drove into a bunker and dropped another shot. A double bogey at the 4th hole also cost McGran. He shot a 70 to follow his opening 67.

Meanwhile, Lee Westwood has been drawn to play the first two rounds of next week's US Open in the company of Tiger Woods. The Englishman, who outscored the world No 1 by seven shots when playing alongside him in the first two rounds of last year's Open at Birkdale, will also partner the South African Ernie Els.

The three-ball tees off at 1.35pm local time (9.35pm BST) on Thursday and 8.06am (4.05pm) on Friday.

In yesterday second round of the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Westwod, the overnight leader, continued to remain at the top of the leaderboard after seven holes. He was on eight-under, one-under for the day, and level with the American Charley Hoffman, who shot a 65.