European TourBrian KeoghDamien McGrane, Gary Murphy, Jonny Caldwell, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Spanish OpenComment

Riled Lawrie gunning for double top

European TourBrian KeoghDamien McGrane, Gary Murphy, Jonny Caldwell, Paul McGinley, Peter Lawrie, Spanish OpenComment

Peter Lawrie insists that the Invisible Man treatment he has received on his Spanish Open defence has motivated him to challenge for a rare repeat victory.

Peter Lawrie has been ignored as defending championBidding to become the first player to defend the title since former Open champion Max Faulkner won it for the second year in succession 56 years ago, the 35-year old Dubliner is disappointed that he has been completely ignored in the build up. 

On a day when Paul McGinley hit a bogey free 67 to move up to sixth,  Lawrie let rip with his clubs and fired a six under par 66 in the second round at PGA Golf de Catalunya near Girona to claim third place on 10 under par.

Just three behind leader Thomas Levet, 40, who hit a 67 to lead by two shots from Soren Hansen (70) on 13 under, Lawrie said: "There's not one picture of me anywhere. I thought I would at least deserve something - it's disappointing and a little bit of motivation.

"Somebody said yesterday about me being the ex-Spanish Open champion. I said 'No, I am the current Spanish Open champion.'

"I just have to try to play well and let the scores make the point."

Headline act John Daly, banned from the PGA Tour, is 11 shots behind after a level par 72 left him tied 36th on two-under.

Jonny Caldwell (77) missed the cut on three over while  Michael Hoey was well off the pace on nine-over after rounds of 75 and 76 on his return to action after his Portuguese Open win.

Gary Murphy made the cut on the mark despite a 74 but Damien McGrane (75) bogeyed the last to miss by a shot.

Lawrie's 66 featured six birdies in the first eight holes followed by two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine.

But McGinley kept a bogey off his card and appears to be showing some form just a week before the 3 Irish Open at Baltray, where he challenged in 2004.

The Dubliner, 42, started on the back nine and went to the turn in 32 before picking up his fifth birdie of the day at the first. 

But while he is pleased with his showing, he is six shots behind Levet on seven-under and knows he has to go low over the weekend to  have any hope of challenging for his first win since he lifted the Volvo Masters in 2005.