English duo lead Open qualifying

England's James Morrison and Ross Fisher led the way at the halfway stage of the Open Championship 36-hole qualifier at Sunningdale on Monday.

Morrison opened with a six-under-par 63 on the New Course, while Ryder Cup player Fisher - penalised a stroke for slow play when in contention for the Wales Open earlier this month - birdied his last three holes for a six-under 64 on the Old.

Ryder Cup captains past and present Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal, both trying to make a 22nd appearance at The Open, were joint third and joint 10th respectively as 96 players battled for 10 spots at Royal Lytham next month.

Montgomerie had a 66 on the New, the same lay-out where he had a record-equalling 62 to qualify two years ago, while over the same course Olazabal reached five under before dropping shots at the 15th, 16th and 18th for a 67.

After winning a four-hole play-off for the BMW International Open in Cologne, Danny Willett did not get a flight until 9.30pm and after "a couple of beers" did not get to bed until 2am.

He teed off just after 10am and with a one-under 69 on the Old was still in the hunt.

Paul McGinley, third in Germany, managed only a 75, however, and was among 21 players not to return for the afternoon second round.