Andrew Both

Bernhard Langer used his vast experience and a good helping of skill to challenge for the lead with a brilliant second round at the Players Championship yesterday.

Langer, at 50 the second oldest player in the field, tamed howling winds to card a five-under-par 67s.

Boosted by a monster birdie from 60 feet at the famous par-three 17th, the German posted a five-under 139 half-way total, certain to be very close to the lead, if not at the head of the field, at the end of the day.

"It was awesome. I hit the ball really well, had lots of opportunities," said Langer, who said he was playing in pain. "My back's been sore, my knee, my shoulder. The physios have been a great help, otherwise I probably wouldn't be able to play."

Langer, a two-time runner up in 1993 and 1995, made a stunning start, gathering an eagle and four birdies in the first eight holes. He bogeyed the par-five ninth but stormed back with a birdie at the par-five 11th, before dropping a shot at the 14th, after a poor drive.

At the island-green 17th, his tee shot barely cleared the water, stopping on the front of the green, just about the length of a cricket wicket from the cup.

The usually stoic Langer pumped a fist in celebration when the ball disappeared, but what the golfing gods give, they also take away, as he found out with a bogey at the last, where he missed the green.

Ian Poulter headed an otherwise non-existent British challenge at one-under 143, but he was extremely annoyed, to put it politely, after a poor finish.

"I'm extremely disappointed with how I finished," said Poulter, who dropped four shots in the final six holes for a 74, still better than the average score in the brutal conditions.

Five of the seven British players in the 144-man field played early, and all but one, Luke Donald, were destined to miss the cut. Even Donald had to work hard to stay alive. He dug himself into a deep hole with an opening 75, but fought back with a rollercoaster 72 to post a three-over 147 total.

"Thursday was definitely worse than today," he said. "I only hit four fairways and seven greens in regulation yesterday. Today, I hit a lot more greens but I'm still making too many mistakes. I'm working really hard and waiting for something to click, but still struggling a bit.

"It's about getting a couple of good rounds, boosting your confidence, because I know I'm working on the right things. Technically, my swing is getting better. It's not resulting in better results but it's going to come soon."

While Donald could prepare for the weekend, compatriots Richard Johnson (six-over), Lee Westwood (seven-over), Justin Rose (seven-over) and Paul Casey (nine-over) were on their way home.

While the early starters on Thursday enjoyed calm conditions, a stiff breeze blew from the very start on yesterday. It reached 20mph by noon and got even stronger during the afternoon.

The early cluhouse leader was Kenny Perry, who followed up his 68 on Thursday with a two-under par 70. The American's round included birdies at the first, 11th and 16th.