LONDON (Reuters) - European Ryder Cup player Graeme McDowell continued his fine form at the Austrian Open with a sparkling 68 to sit one shot off the lead after the second round on Friday.
The Briton, returning to action for the first time since last month's U.S. PGA Championship, conjured up five birdies to move to seven-under 137, three shots clear of Ryder Cup team mate Miguel Angel Jimenez who also went round in 68.
Britain's John Parry hit a five-under par 67, carding five birdies without dropping a shot, to hold the midway lead.
"It's very much the old cliche of a game of two halves, this golf course," world number 14 McDowell told the European Tour's website (www.europeantour.com).
"This front nine's quite tricky and you've got to drive the ball unbelievably well to have any chance of making birdies," added the Briton, who lies second on the European Tour money list behind Ryder Cup team mate Martin Kaymer of Germany.
McDowell is playing his last tournament before the Ryder Cup match against the U.S. at Celtic Manor in Wales from October 1-3.
(Writing by Tom Pilcher and Toby Davis, editing by Ed Osmond and Pritha Sarkar)
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.