SEVILLE, Spain (AFP) - Ryder Cup stars Paul Casey and Luke Donald nudged England ahead in the World Cup with three quick birdies in the second round foursomes.
Starting the day at 11-under par, one behind joint leaders Ireland and Austria, the youthful duo, looking to become only the second England team to win the event in its half century history, safely parred the opening two holes.
Then three birdies in a row from the third gave them a two-stroke lead at 14-under as the Irish pairing of Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley opened with three straight pars.
The Irish had to scramble on the first though after Harrington had left his tee-shot under a tree.
McGinley could only punch the ball out back onto the fairway, but an exquisite Harrington approach from 75 yards out and an assured McGinley putt from eight feet saved par.
The rank outsider Austrian duo of Martin Wegele and Markus Brier meanwhile fell back to 11-under with a bogey four at the third.
Also making a move in the early action Friday were 2002 winners Japan and favourites Spain.
Hidemichi Tanaka missed a four-footer for a bogey five on the first, but he and Shigeki Maruyama birdied the third and fourth to get back to 11-under, two strokes off the pace.
Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez, followed by a large home crowd, birdied the third and the fifth to also stand at 11-under.
The biggest movers of the morning, however, were South African defending champions Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini who picked up four strokes going out including an eagle-three at the ninth to get to 10-under par.
The World Golf Championship series tournament brings together 24 pairings playing four days of alternate fourballs and foursomes.
11/19/2004 - 13:31 GMT - AFP