Woosnam in the hunt to end title drought

Ian Woosnam was walking with a spring in his step in Spain yesterday - and not just because he had put himself in the hunt for the Madrid Open and a first tour title in eight years with a round of 65.

The Ryder Cup captainwas also thrilled with the start made by Colin Montgomerie, who was round in 66. He knows that Montgomerie is someone the Americans do not like facing. "Let's get another 11 of them," Woosnam said. On a day of spectacular scoring - the Spaniard Ivo Giner charged from four over par to seven under with a 60 - Woosnam reached halfway on eight under par, while Montgomerie safely avoided the cut onfour under.

The lead, though, is held at 14 under par by France's Raphael Jacquelin. Seve Ballesteros, in his first event for almost two years, only avoided last place with a birdie on the 18th for eight over par, improving by four shots on his initial 77.