Stenson sets pace in Valderrama

Stenson had five birdies in a row from the 13th

R2 LEADERBOARD:
GB&Ire unless stated
-4 H Stenson (Swe)
-3 L Westwood
-2 P Archer, L Donald, D Lynn, R Green (Aus)
Selected others:
level P Harrington
+1 R Karlsson, D Howell
+6 Paul Casey

Sweden's Henrik Stenson overcame some poor weather to shoot a 68 and take the halfway lead at the season-ending Volvo Masters in Valderrama on four under.

The Ryder Cup player holds a one-shot lead over Lee Westwood, who had birdies at the 17th and 18th to challenge.

Paul Casey's hopes of topping the Order of Merit are still alive after a round of 72 put him on six over.

His closest rival Padraig Harrington is on level par, one shot ahead of David Howell and Robert Karlsson.

Harrington needs a top-three finish to have a chance of pipping Casey and at the halfway point they are in ninth and 35th positions respectively.

After shooting a 69 to be well in touch with the leaders, the Irishman is hoping to maintain his form over the weekend.

I still feel weak and lethargic like I've been beaten up Paul Casey

"I don't really need to worry about the Order of Merit," he said.

"I just need to keep myself in contention and hopefully the leaders won't run away from me, and with nine holes to go I'll be there or thereabouts.

"I've had a bad day and an average day, so hopefully I've got a couple of good ones left.

Casey, whose opening round of 76 came when he was feeling at his worst with a bout of food poisoning, improved by four shots.

"I'm over the worst," said the Surrey golfer. "I managed to eat half a sandwich. It was the first thing in almost two days.

"I'm better, but I still feel weak and lethargic, like I've been beaten up. I didn't think I'd be playing last night."

Another player struggling with illness was David Lynn but he still managed to shoot a 71 for a share of joint third place.

Lynn had to be taken to hospital in Marbella in the early hours of Friday and put on a number of drips after being taken ill.

The Stoke-on-Trent golfer was tested for salmonella poisoning and not released until 1100, little more than two hours before he was teeing off.

"If you had told me last night I would play, let alone shoot level par, I would have just laughed," he said.