Hedblom, Millar jump into the lead

Andalucian Open Update:   Swede Peter Hedblom chipped in twice and Australian Matthew Millar finished with a 100-footer as they took over at the top from Lee Westwood in the Andalucian Open at Aloha today.

Defending champion Westwood, opened with a seven-under-par 65, but followed up with a 73 after three-putting the last from only six feet.

At the same hole 30 minutes later, Millar carved his drive into the trees, came up short of the green and then sank his pitch for a three and a 69.

Hedblom, meanwhile, struggled with a heavy cold but as well as making a 25-foot eagle putt on the long fifth, holed from off the green at both the seventh and 13th to be round in 67.

Ireland's Rory McIlroy took some of the shine of yesterday's good work by signing for a second round 73.

The Holywood teenager carded birdies at the seventh and ninth but they were cancelled out by three bogeys, including a dropped shot at the last to leave the 18-year-old on three-under at the halfway stage.

Having missed the cut in his last three events, McIlroy will at least be around to challenge over the weekend. The same cannot be said, however, for fellow Ulsterman Darren Clarke after rounds of 73 and 76.

Best of the Irish is Damien McGrane on four under after he added 72 to his opening round of 68.  A second 72 meant Dubliner Peter Lawrie scraped the cut on level par, but Gary Murphy's challenge ended today when a level par round failed amend yesterday's 74.

Hedblom and Millar lead by one from English pair Richard Dinwiddie and David Lynn and Frenchman Thomas Levet.

Westwood dropped to joint sixth on six under, while English amateur champion Danny Willett fell away to three under with a disappointing 75 after starting his first European Tour event with a brilliant 66.

"The greens are a bit trickier in the afternoon — they get a bit iffy," said Westwood. "I probably deserved better than 73, but you have days like that.

"It would have been nice to two-putt the last from six feet, but what can you do? It jumped straight left on me." The second putt he missed was from under two feet.

Hedblom forgot to bring his nasal spray with him, and stated: "Walking up the hills on the front nine I was so tired and I told my wife to go and get it from the house we are renting.

"Before she got back, though, something was brought to me and hopefully I'll be feeling better tomorrow."

Alongside Westwood is Welshman Bradley Dredge, who needs to win on Sunday to climb back into the world's top 50 just in time to earn a place in the Masters.

Jose Maria Olazabal is on one under, but delighted to have survived the halfway cut in his first event since last August's US PGA Championship.

The 42-year-old, likely now to travel to America for next week's Houston Open and then the Masters, is still battling rheumatic pains in his lower back and had no great expectations.

© 2008 The Irish Times