Casey leads at Wentworth

Paul Casey, told on Wednesday that the world number three spot was there for him to grab this week, is bang on course for it halfway through the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Three years after he won £1million on the course in the World Match Play, Casey moved from two behind to two in front with a second-round 67 at the European Tour's flagship event.

Rory McIlory is best of the Irish on two under par, six behind Casey, while Darren Clarke (+1) and Graeme McDowell (+2) are the only two other Irishmen to make the cut.

Those not staying around for the weekend include Gareth Maybin, Peter Lawrie (both +3) and Paul McGinley (+9), as well as Masters champion Angel Cabrera (+5), Players Championship winner Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen (both +4), and Lee Westwood (+10).

31-year-old Casey had no hesitation nominating his shot of the day - a 163-yard nine-iron that dived into the hole for a two at the difficult 13th.

Not that it was Casey's only eagle. He hit a seven-iron to seven feet at the long fourth and had the chance of another when he was almost as close on the 12th, only to miss the putt.

That was one of four birdies, but a disappointing six-five finish on the two par fives limited him to eight under par.

And he ended up with only 13 usable clubs, bending his four-iron when he struck a tree on the 17th.

'I was worried that the club might snap and injure somebody in the crowd,' he said. 'It's an old shaft and it might be difficult to get it replaced - and I wanted to hit it at the last.

'I would have taken a two-shot lead at the start of the day, but there were still a few too many mistakes, which was a bit frustrating.

'I used to struggle to figure out a way round here and stood on some tees pretty scared, but the changes (made by playing partner Ernie Els) gave me more options and I've built over the years a liking for the course.'

First prize this time is just under £670,000 and that would take him well clear in the circuit's new Race To Dubai, but it is the possibility of a third win this year and a leap from seventh to third in the rankings - behind only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson - that sends him into the weekend licking his lips.

Joint second are holder Miguel Angel Jimenez, England's David Horsey and Anthony Wall, Scot Marc Warren and also Dane Soren Kjeldsen.

Jimenez's dream for the last 36 holes is that he will become only the third player in the event's history - after Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie - to make a successful defence of the trophy.

The 45-year-old's hopes were given a massive boost by a closing 18-foot eagle putt after he had driven into the fairway bunker for the second day running.

'I think this course suits me because you need to control the ball,' said the Malaga golfer. 'It's always a benefit being a long hitter, but it does not make much difference here because you have to place the ball.'

Jimenez has had more wins - eight - since his 40th birthday than before and he commented: 'I feel the people kicking and trying to put me away, but I am still solid like a bull.

'I still enjoy myself with this new era and I love the competition. I still feel these butterflies in my stomach - it's what I do in my life and what I want to keep doing.'

First-day leaders Horsey and Wall both added 71s to their opening rounds of 67 to be alongside Jimenez and they were joined by Warren when he birdied four of the last seven for a best-of-the-day 66 and Kjeldsen after he shot 69.

Former Open champion Ben Curtis and South African Thomas Aiken are in joint seventh on five under.