Webster charges into contention
Steve Webster - going well.
The 34-year-old, hit by a loft door while helping his father move furniture, fired a six-under-par 65 at Le Golf National today (Friday) to reach halfway with an eight-under-par total of 134.
That was one behind overnight leader Martin Kaymer - among the day's later starters - and South African Charl Schwartzel, who still had three holes of his second round to play.
"I was worried quite a lot at first because it cut inside my eye," said Webster, who missed last week's event in Germany following the incident.
"I had to have x-rays first and then stitches. The doctor told me 'Lay on the bed and don't move - I'm just going to put two needles in your eye'.
"I had a black eye for a few days, but I was lucky really. I told him to make me a better putter while he was at it - and he seems to have done a good job!"
Former European Tour player Gary Evans was also given some of the credit, however, after making a couple of suggestions.
"He was a great putter, and if I putt well I can shoot low. It's a nice feeling when you hit it to 15 feet and feel you have a chance of making it."
Four successive birdies from the second helped Lee Westwood into a tie for fourth place, but playing partners Jose Maria Olazabal and Angel Cabrera - past and present Masters champions - were heading out of the event at one over and three over respectively.
Harrington was in danger of a fifth successive missed cut when he resumed one over.
Webster, twice a runner-up this season, actually shared top spot with one to play - but pushed his drive down the difficult last and bogeyed.
Swede Peter Hanson reached 10 under but then went in the lake and double-bogeyed the first, his 10th of the day.
Playing the last he was alongside Westwood, Yorkshire's Danny Willett and Italian Francesco Molinari.