KEY POINTS:
ALVESLOHE, Germany - Andres Romero followed up his spectacular bid to win the British Open with another exciting display on Saturday (NZ time) when the 26-year-old Argentine took over the Players Championship lead at Gut Kaden.
Romero's latest feats - a run of five birdies in six holes after an early double-bogey - led to a four-under 68.
That hauled him to eight-under 136, a stroke better than Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez.
South African youngster Anton Haig (69), winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic title early in the season, and Swede Alex Noren (71) lay third, two shots off the lead.
New Zealand's Michael Campbell failed to make the cut after shooting a five over par 77. That left Campbell at one over par along with first round leader Simon Khan who carded an eight over par 80.
Reminiscent of Carnoustie on Monday, Romero paid for aggression on his final hole, sending a birdie effort eight feet past the cup and missing the putt back to close with a bogey.
The leader, in only his second year and without a full tour title, agreed that inexperience cost him dearly last week.
A double-bogey on the 17th after he had gone into a two-shot lead in the final round, and a closing bogey, left him third in the British Open behind winner Padraig Harrington.
"Experience is obviously something I'm looking for," Romero told a news conference through an interpreter. "I could have played the 17th a different way last week, I know.
"But I won't change my way of playing. We are not machines. When I play a bad shot I'm not very happy but I keep going and hope to put it right."
Jimenez, joint 12th on Monday, has tried out a belly putter for the first time this week.
"I saw that people had improved with the belly putter, Gregory Havret (winner of the Scottish Open) and Sergio Garcia included, so I started using it yesterday," Jimenez told a news conference.
- REUTERS
