EUROPEAN

• Havret still on top at Johnnie Walker

  
  

  Perthshire, Scotland (Sports Network) - Gregory Havret had a wild round on Friday that featured an eagle, five birdies, a double-bogey and three bogeys, but his two-under 71 was enough to stay atop the leaderboard at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

  Havret, the overnight leader by two, finished two rounds at seven-under 139 and is one clear of Robert Rock, who posted his second three-under 70 on Friday.

  Bradley Dredge (70) and Peter Whiteford (68) are knotted in third place at five-under 141.

  The subplot of the week is the Ryder Cup. Nick Faldo's European side will be finalized after this championship when his 10 automatic qualifiers are in and Faldo rounds out his team with two picks.

  As for the 10 automatic spots, it has come down to the final three and the current occupants of those positions didn't do much to hurt their chances on Friday.

  Justin Rose is eighth on the Ryder Cup list and shot a two-under 71 on Friday and is part of a group tied for 13th at minus-two.

  Soren Hansen is ninth and carded his second two-under 71 in as many rounds. He is tied for fifth place at four-under 142.

  Oliver Wilson is the precarious 10th spot, but a one-under 72 was enough to get in on the number at plus-two. Martin Kaymer, who is 11th on the points list, struggled to an even-par 73 and missed the cut by a stroke at plus- three.

  Kaymer missed a three-foot birdie putt at the last to all but eliminate his chances of a Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla.

  "It's really, really disappointing," said Kaymer. "I wish all the other guys good luck at the Ryder Cup, but without me there." Kaymer does not seem like he'd be a captain's pick for Faldo, despite two wins this season. Some other candidates are in better position.

  Darren Clarke managed an even-par 73 and is tied for 23rd at minus-one.

  Colin Montgomerie, who has played in every Ryder Cup since 1991, shot a three- under 70 on Friday and jumped into a tie for 13th, with among others, Rose.

  "Nick Faldo knows what I can bring to a Ryder Cup," said Montgomerie. "It's his decision.

  He's got a very difficult one.

  It's not clear-cut. I'm sure, knowing Nick, he'll make the right one." But there is a tournament going on, and while Havret has very little chance to play in the Ryder Cup, he's in great shape for a third European Tour victory.

  His strange round began with a terrible approach at the first that resulted in a bogey. He birdied the second, but bogeyed No. 5. Havret birdied the par-five ninth to make the turn in even-par for the round.

  Havret was one-under through the first five holes of his second nine thanks to a pair of birdies and a bogey. He ran into serious trouble on the par-four 15th green when he three-putted from almost 12 feet. Havret walked off with a double-bogey.

  The Frenchman responded with a long eagle putt at the par-five 16th.

  "That's all about golf," joked Havret of his weird two-hole stretch.

  He birdied the par-five 18th to get in with the midway lead.

  "It was a funny day," acknowledged Havret, who took a five-week break earlier this summer. "That's the way it is. Seven-under is a good score." Former U.S.

  Open champion Michael Campbell (69), David Howell (67) and Gary Orr (72) joined Hansen in fifth at four-under 142.

  Francois Delamontagne (68), Ricardo Gonzalez (67), Francesco Molinari (70) and Graeme Storm (69) are knotted in ninth place at three-under 143.

  Last year's winner Marc Warren shot an 80 on Friday and missed the cut at plus-seven.

  08/29 15:51:31 ET