Europeans lagging at CA Championship

2008-03-21

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By Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer

MIAMI, Florida (Ticker) - The British challenge all but peteredout after the second round at the CA Championship on Friday.

Luke Donald was the best of a disappointing 10-man bunch,trailing leader Geoff Ogilvy by eight strokes at Doral Resort''sBlue Monster.

"It was a lot tougher out there today with the wind change andespecially tough for me because of the things that I am workingon," Donald said after an even-par 72 in a testing easterlybreeze. "It''s a tough course at the best of times so it wasreally a case of grinding it out for me today.

"It''s not far away. I feel the changes are close to reallykicking in but it does get harder and harder the longer theclub. I am still struggling a little bit off the tees in thoseright-to-left winds but I''ll keep plugging away."

Donald was tied for 10th while compatriots Graeme Storm, RossFisher and Justin Rose were another shot back.

All in all, it was pretty slim pickings in a tournament that hasnever been won by a European in eight stagings, although withTiger Woods walking off with six titles here, that only leavestwo others for the rest of the world.

Swede Robert Karlsson and Dane Anders Hansen headed theEuropeans. The good news is that they were tied for fourth; thebad news was they trailed leader Ogilvy by six strokes andTiger Woods by five.

"I''m playing really well, so I''m definitely pleased with it,"Karlsson said after a 70. "It''s a completely opposite windtoday. Some holes are harder, some easier, but I think this isthe wind most players are used to.

"You''ve got to play well on the holes that give you chances andmake sure you don''t make any stupid mistakes."