Englishmen lead Johnnie Walker Championship

By Brian Creighton

Gleneagles - England's Steve Webster shot a five-under-par 67 on Friday to share the halfway lead with compatriot Mark Foster in the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Webster birdied five holes on his back nine to draw level with overnight leader Foster, who shot 70 to leave them both on six-under.

Gregory Bourdy, a 33-year-old Frenchman in his first full year on tour, bogeyed two of his final four holes to finish with a 69 to be one shot back from the co-leaders - but level with England's Sam Little.

Webster, who won the Italian Open in May, will be playing his first tournament in the United States next week when he tees off in the US PGA Championship.

"If I am playing well, I will love it, I know I will," Webster said. "But it is going to be difficult."

The Englishman said playing on the hilly Centenary course at Gleneagles was good preparation for the PGA at Baltusrol.

"Any course where you are playing well is good preparation," said Webster. "But this is quite a tricky driving course, so it should stand me in good stead next week."

Foster's round was highlighted by an eagle at the long 16th, where he hit a three-wood to six feet and sank the putt.

"Otherwise, I just kept patient. Not much was happening but my short game kept me in there," he said.

Friday was warmer, calmer and easier than Thursday as the greens dried out after overnight rain.

Raphael Jacquelin had the week's best round - a six-under 66 - despite a bogey six on the final hole.

With the withdrawal through injury of Colin Montgomerie and David Howell, the next highest player in the world rankings was Australian left-hander Richard Green.

Green is ranked 50th and just made the halfway cut of three-over 148 after shooting 77-71.

English Ryder Cup player Paul Casey is another who is preparing for next week's PGA, and he is also trying to recover from a slump that has caused him to miss cuts in his last six events.

Casey had a 73 to be on level-par 144. - Sapa-AP