Fisher on fire to hold Killarney advantage

England's Ross Fisher fired 61 in the second round of the 3 Irish Open in Killarney and he needed nobody to tell him it could have been an historic 59.

One of Europe's great talents has been somewhat dormant since winning the Volvo World Match Play in Spain last November.
But his bid for the Ryder Cup debut he just missed last time was reignited by a remarkable charge into a three-stroke halfway lead over Italian Francesco Molinari at the 3 Irish Open.

Six successive birdies for a front-nine 29, then four more in a row from the 11th left Fisher needing just two from the last four to become the European Tour's first player to break 60.

There have been four 59s on the US Tour, the most recent of them by Paul Goydos earlier this month, while Ryo Ishikawa shot 58 in Japan in May and only a few days ago a 17-year-old amateur scored 57 in the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship.

But, like so many before him, Fisher had to settle for the lowest round of his Tour career and not the record. He missed from six feet at the 15th, only parred the long 16th as well after driving into sand and failed with birdie attempts on the last two.

The Irish challenge is well-placed at the half-way stage with Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy and Michael all tied for thord on seven under.

After a closing 20-footer for birdie 2007 winner Harrington, without a Tour title for almost two years, said: 'I putted like I did in my amateur days. It's a lot easier to play the game when you struggle a little bit and recover.

'You walk to the next tee feeling really good about yourself whereas the guy who hits two nice shots in and two-putts feels pretty bad.'

McIlroy, round in 68, has had 14 birdies already, but also seven bogeys. I'll have to really try and limit those for the weekend," said the 21-year-old world number eight. "I feel as I'm playing well enough to challenge.'

Darren Clarke's 70 put him six under, the same mark as his fellow Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul McGinley.

The cut mark came in at level par, which means Graeme McDowell will be around for the weekend after posting a 72 to finish on that mark.