Luke Donald 'plods' past Willett at the head of BMW PGA leaderboard

A second successive 68 yesterday enabled Donald to take over at the top from fellow Englishman Danny Willett in the European Tour's showpiece BMW PGA Championship. Donald has so far had only one bogey in 36 holes – and his five on the 12th would have been a par a year ago.

"I think the reason it suits me is because you kind of have to plot your way around a little bit more now," he said.

Without a win in Europe for six years, this is the first of a three-week break from the US Tour to try to boost his prospects of regaining his Ryder Cup spot after wrist surgery kept him out last time.

Captain Colin Montgomerie, himself level par in the championship he has won three times, knows what an asset Donald could be in October.

"I'm delighted he's made an effort to come over and to come to Wales (Celtic Manor also hosts the Welsh Open in a fortnight's time)," he said. "I think that's a big tick in his column."

With tournament debutant Willett adding only a one-over 72 to his opening 65, Donald leads by one from not only the 22-year-old from Sheffield, but also last year's runner-up Ross Fisher (70) and South African James Kingston (69).

Paul Casey, who has Donald's brother Christian as his caddie, still has high hopes of a successful defence on four under, while Padraig Harrington and Bristol's Chris Wood are on the same mark following rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.

Scotland's Richie Ramsay, who was lying joint-third overnight after an opening 67, dropped down to a share of 12th after a second-round 73.

Fellow Aberdonian Paul Lawrie is also two-under for the tournament – just four off the lead – after a 69, while Stephen Gallacher (72) is a shot further back.

David Drysdale (71) is alongside Montgomerie, who had a 69, while three other Scots – Alastair Forsyth (70), Craig Lee (76) and Peter Whiteford (71) – all made it through to the final two rounds as well on three-over, which was the cut mark.