MacIntyre Takes Charge In Hamburg

Robert MacIntyre leads the Porsche European Open by four shots at the halfway stage after a second-round seven-under-par 65. The 23-year-old Scot was two shots behind overnight leader Paul Casey going into Friday’s play at the Green Eagle course in Hamburg, Germany. However, Casey mixed four bogeys and three birdies to card a one over 73 in his second round.

It could have been a lot worse for the 42-year-old Englishman, but he pulled things round when picking up two shots in the final four holes. MacIntyre impressed with seven birdies in his blemish-free round to sit on 11-under after 36 holes and has given himself a solid buffer over German Bernd Rithammer, who carded a 66 to sit on seven under.

MacIntyre, who secured runners-up finishes at the British Masters and the Made in Denmark tournaments earlier in the year, told the European Tour website: “I just stuck to my game plan. It’s probably the best I’ve driven a ball – possibly this year. It’s not just going straight, it’s going miles. “I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s working so I’m just going to try and continue to do it.

“I can only control what I can control and that’s swinging the golf club for each individual shot. That’s all I’m going to do over the weekend as well and hopefully I can keep the good scores coming.” Casey is now another two shots further back on five under, alongside Matthias Schwab of Austria and Italian Guido Migliozzi.