Aiken takes lead with 64 at European Masters

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Thomas Aiken shot 7-under 64 in Round 2 of the European Masters to take the lead at 10 under.

CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland (AP) -- Thomas Aiken moved to the top of the European Masters leaderboard early Friday with a 7-under 64 in the second round.

The South African is at 10-under 132 overall, one stroke ahead of 2006 champion Bradley Dredge (65). Overnight leaders Brett Rumford (73) and Simon Dyson (71) both slipped back.

Dyson, who shot a 63 in the opening round, is third overall at 8 under, tied with Paul McGinley (68) and Angelo Que (65). Rumford shares sixth place with Chapchai Nirat (67), Alexander Noren (70) and Graeme Storm (66).

Aiken began his round with a birdie and followed that with his only bogey of the day. He made five more birdies and an eagle at the 14th.

"I had 242 yards to the pin and crunched a 2-iron to eight feet," said Aiken, who has finished in the top 10 seven times this year. "It has been a fantastic season, and it'll be more fantastic if I can cap it off with a win."

The European Masters is the first event in qualifying for next year's European Ryder Cup team. While many are not yet taking it seriously, Dredge is.

"The Ryder Cup is the goal," the Welshman said. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play Ryder Cup in Wales. My aim is to do as much as I can to get on that team."

Dredge, however, admitted that he has had a disappointing year so far.

"Today my short game was good," Dredge added. "I putted really well and didn't miss many from the 8-10 foot range and got up and down when I had to. I just have to improve the ball striking a bit."

Que almost did not make it to Switzerland after having visa problems, but he and Nirat are doing well for Asia in the event now co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

"It shows the standard of the Asian players and that we can beat the start players," Nirat said.

Jeev Milka Singh shot a 69 despite a quadruple bogey at the 12th hole, his third.

"I had a bad break, but after that, I came back pretty good," the Indian said.

Rory McIlroy, who lost in a playoff at last year's European Masters, shot a 71 after dropping three shots in two holes on his second nine.

"I was doing quite well until I bogeyed the 18th, although I got it back on the first," McIlroy said. "I'd been driving so well, and I was confident at the sixth, but I didn't commit to it and missed it right. I should still have made par."

Lee Westwood, one of McIlroy's playing partners, improved four shots to a 67 but said his putting let him down.

"I had only two one-putts and 34 putts overall," Westwood said. "But that shows the quality tee to green."