World No. 5 Graeme McDowell continued his love affair with Celtic Manor on Friday, booming out one of the longest drives of his career as he moved within one shot of the Wales Open second-round lead.
A three-under-par 68 gave the defending champion a seven-under total of 135 at the venue for last year’s Ryder Cup, one behind Alexander Noren of Sweden (67).
McDowell cracked a 385-yard drive at the 18th hole to set up his fifth birdie of the day.
“I can’t remember hitting the ball any longer than that,” the Briton told reporters at the course where he recorded the winning Ryder Cup point for Europe in October.
Last year, McDowell was six shots off the Wales Open pace going into the weekend, but then carded rounds of 64 and 63 to storm to victory by three strokes.
Brimming with confidence from his win in Wales, the Northern Irishman went on to claim his first major title in the US Open at Pebble Beach.
Noren, the 2009 European Masters winner, also claimed four birdies in five holes with his run starting at the 14th.
The 28-year-old Swede said he had drastically reduced his practice this week.
In joint third place on 136 were Briton Jamie Donaldson (68) and Frenchman Victor Dubuisson (69).
McDowell’s Ryder Cup teammate Peter Hanson of Sweden was among a trio of players three strokes off the lead that included 50-year-old Briton Barry Lane and overnight leader Keith Horne of South Africa.
Colin Montgomerie, captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup team last year, produced his worst two opening rounds for 20 years as he plummeted to 157, 15 over.
Montgomerie’s major mission now is to protect a proud qualifying record for the British Open that stretches a little longer.
Montgomerie has played in the British Open for 21 straight years since making his debut in 1990, but that streak will be broken unless he can navigate through a qualifying event at Sunningdale tomorrow for the tournament at Royal St George’s next month.
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