Golf: Langer lording it as Lyle misses cut: Day of mixed fortunes for Europeans

BERNHARD LANGER, the Masters champion took a share of the lead at eight under par after two rounds of the Heritage Classic yesterday. Langer's round of 65 at Harbour Town tied him with South Africa's David Frost and the American, David Edwards. The first round leader, Payne Stewart, was one shot back along with 27-year- old Bob Estes.

Langer won here in 1985, one week after his first Masters win. He said yesterday: 'I'm trying to remind myself everyday of that time.' In 1985 Langer was never far from the lead, and he said the only difference between now and then is that now he has three children.'

Starting on the 10th hole, Langer played his first nine holes in 31 strokes, making birdie putts that ranged from four to 20 feet in length, and missing almost as many from inside of 12 feet. 'My swing is in a groove. My confidence is high. It's just a matter of picking up some energy - I'm still tired from last week. I just have to make sure I keep my concentration and focus this weekend. I'm still adjusting to the greens here. I'm still picturing the ball releasing the way that it would at Augusta, and it just doesn't go as fast here.'

Langer played his last nine holes two under par, with three birdies and one bogey. The bogey was the result of one of those chips that did not release the way it would have at Augusta. Langer then missed a short putt on the ninth hole which would have given him the lead by himself.

Sandy Lyle shot a 67 that he said was almost as good as Thursday's round of 77 had been bad. The biggest flaw in yesterday's round was that it was not good enough, by one stroke, to earn him a place in the weekend draw. Lyle had five birdies and a bogey yesterday, but the two holes that annoyed him most were the par fives on Harbour Town's front nine. On both the second and fifth holes he used three wood off the tee, and then miscued his six-iron second shots.

Frost ended a two-year slump last year, and since June has won four times. He has had two top 10 finishes this year, but missed his last three cuts.

HERITAGE CLASSIC (Hilton Head Island) Leading second-round scores (US unless stated): 134 B Langer (Ger) 69 65; D Frost (SA) 67 67; D Edwards 68 66. 135 B Estes 68 67; P Stewart 65 70. 136 M McCumber 68 68; L Wadkins 66 70; J Cook 69 67. 137 D Pooley 67 70; H Twitty 70 67; J Sluman 68 69; J Mudd 69 68; L Janzen 71 66; R Fehr 71 66; C Pavin 67 70. 138 L Ten Broeck 70 68. 139 C Parry (Aus) 70 69. 140 N Lancaster 71 69. 144 S Lyle (Sco) 77 67.