Bob MacIntyre four shots clear at halfway point in European Open

Bob MacIntyre leads in Hamburg where, he says, Its probably the best Ive driven the ball this year. Picture: Getty

MacIntyre added a bogey-free second round of 65 to his opening 68 at Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg to reach 11 under par, four shots clear of Germany’s Bernd Ritthammer, who returned a 66.

Overnight leader Paul Casey struggled to a 73 to lie six shots off the pace alongside Austria’s Matthias Schwab and Italy’s Guido Migliozzi.

MacIntyre’s brilliant debut season has already produced back-to-back runner-up finishes and a tie for sixth in the Open Championshp at Royal Portrush, but the 23-year-old from Oban remains intent on improving.

“It’s probably the best I’ve driven the ball this year, it’s not just going straight it’s going miles,” said MacIntyre, who birdied only one of the five par 5s on the 7,500-yard  layout.

“I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s working so I’m just going to try to continue to do it. I can only control what I can control and that’s swinging the golf club for each individual shot so that’s all I’m going to do over the weekend as well and hopefully we can keep the good scores coming.

“I’ve changed quite a few things over the season to improve and they seem to be working. Dave [Burns] my coach is on the bag this week and doing a great job. Off the course when we’re at home we’re practising the right things and it’s good to see the reward.

“It’s going to be tough, especially when it’s my first time with such a lead. I’m just going to have to learn from this  experience.

“I’m doing the right things on the course, doing the right things off the course. I’m nice and relaxed, everything at home’s been brilliant so I’m in the right mindset for going out there this weekend.”

The leader after each round is given the use of a sponsor’s car for the evening and MacIntyre added: “I think Dave was itching to get a wee shot but no, no, it’s my car this time!”

The left-hander is the only Scot through to the weekend after Grant Forrest, Liam Johnston, Richie Ramsay, Duncan Stewart, Marc Warren and David Drysdale all made early exits.

World No 9 Xander Schauffele, the top-ranked player in the field, is nine shots off the pace after a 69, while former Masters champion Patrick Reed is two over par following a 72.

l Scottish amateur Ryan Lumsden finished joint second in a European Tour Q School stage-one event in Bristol.