Jose Rivero of Spain upstaged his younger and more famous countryman, Sergio Garcia, to sweep into the lead in the incomplete second round of the Linde German Masters at Gut Lärchenhof.
Rivero shot a six under par 66 to lead by two strokes from Retief Goosen of South Africa after the last nine groups had returned to the course early on Saturday morning to compete the second round, which had been suspended by darkness late on Friday night.
Rivero, currently 132nd in the Volvo Order of Merit and in need of a hefty pay day to secure his card for 2000, is 131st on the Volvo Order of Merit and dependent on large cheque soon.
Rivero just scraped in before darkness fell and he was thrilled by his performance which earned a glowing tribute from 19 year old rising star, Garcia.
The elder Spaniard said: “It was a fantastic round. I had seven birdies and one bogey. I know that No.132 in the Order of Merit is not very good but I just play the same every week and if things happen, they happen.
“I changed my putting grip at the Lancome Trophy. I have started putting with my left hand below the right and today I putted very well.”
Goosen is Rivero’s closest clubhouse rival after following his initial 69 with a 67 for an eight under par total of 136. He is turn in one ahead of two menacing figures in Garcia and defending champion Colin Montgomerie.
Garcia added a 69 to his first round 68 and said: “I am happy with a 69 so Jose must be really pleased with his 66. I am close to Monty and feel I have a chance to win.”
Montgomerie has still to drop a single shot after 36 holes in foul weather which forced the problem in completing the second round. He followed an opening 70 with a near flawless 67 and looked and sounded confident as he chases his sixth title of the year and a seventh Volvo Order of Merit.
He said: “No mistakes is two days is good. I’ve very tired obviously but I am still in there battling. It’s a very nice position. I have a goal and I’m going for it.”
That goal is a record seventh Order of Merit, and victory this week would secure a record-equalling sixth title in one season, matching the feat of Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo in the past. Montgomerie had chances at the Victor Chandler British Masters and the Trophee Lancome to earn his sixth win, but came up just short.
The leader board has a star-studded look about it with 1998 US PGA champion Vijay Singh ranging up alongside the leaders on 138, six under par, a mark he shares with Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal. Singh shot 70 and Olazabal a 71 in the second round.
