Laid-back Lawrie on the march in Munich

Daddy cool. Peter Lawrie is right on the leaders’ heels in the BWM International Open. Credit: www.golffile.iePeter Lawrie has been catching up with his sleep and closing in on the leaders in the BMW International Open in Munich.

The Dubliner joked that grinding on tour feels like a holiday compared to his hectic domestic life after his wife Philippa gave birth to their first son and the couple’s fourth child just last month.

But it will all work this weekend after a second round 68 left him just three strokes adrift of leaders Henrik Stenson and George Coetzee on seven under par.

Asked if he felt refreshed after a sleepless month of paternity leave, Lawrie said: “Definitely with the golf game. You are delighted to get back playing really. Life is so different at home than it is out here.

Damien McGrane missed the cut in Germany. Credit: www.golffile.ie“I call this Camp European Tour. We have four young children so life is a little more busy at home that it is out here. I have been lucky enough to have a lie in on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, today and hopefully tomorrow.”

Lawrie opened with a three under 69 in the worst of Thursday afternoon’s rain storms but took advantage of more benign conditions on Friday to fire fives birdies and just one bogey to move into a share of ninth place.

Gunning for his second European Tour title and his first since his maiden win in the 2008 Spanish Open, he missed just one fairway and only three greens and hopes he can continue to create chances over the weekend.

“I played nicely,” he said. “Unfortunately missed a few chances on four, five and six, which was disappointing. But I played lovely golf today and 68 is always a good score. I will just keep on going and try to give myself a good few chances and keep on hitting it the way I am.

Henrik Stenson: “I’m in a good position and I’m feeling very good.” Credit: www.golffile.ie“The difference in the conditions was chalk and cheese compared to yesterday when we really struggled in solid rain for 16 holes. Today was much better. It got a little bit cooler there with four or five holes to go but it was so much easier.”

Stenson (70) and Coetzee (67) lead by a shot on 10 under par from Spain’s Pablo Larrazábal with Bradley Dredge, Tim Sluiter, Simon Khan, Mark Foster and Marcus Brier a shot further back.

While it was a good day for Lawrie, the rest of the Irish contingent missed the two under par cut.

Damien McGrane will find himself outside the top-100 in the Race to Dubai standings on Sunday night after a three over par back nine for a 73 saw him miss out by two shots on level par.

Recently-married Gareth Maybin also missed out by two after a second successive 72 while Shane Lowry was six strokes outside the mark after following a damaging 76 with a 72.