EUROPEAN

• Rumford, McIlroy share European Masters lead

  
  

  Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Defending champion Brett Rumford of Australia fired a four-under 67 on Friday to tie Rory McIlroy for the lead midway through the European Masters.

  McIlroy, the 19-year-old former amateur star from Northern Ireland who grabbed the first-round lead with a 63 on Thursday, followed with a 71 in the second round.

  The duo was knotted at eight-under 134 for a one-shot advantage over Juan Abbate (67), Alejandro Canizares (68) and Jean-Francois Lucquin (67).

  Fredrik Andersson Hed (67), Simon Dyson (67) and Peter Lawrie (69) stood another stroke further back at six-under 136.

  Mikko Ilonen had a one-shot lead on the field before making four bogeys in his last five holes to fall back to five-under, where he joined eight other players in a tie for ninth place.

  Rumford, 31, birdied three of his first five holes Friday after beginning his round on the back nine at picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre. He went on to birdie two of the first three holes on the front nine, but a bogey at No. 5 and four subsequent pars derail his chances for sole possession of the overnight lead.

  Seeking his fourth European Tour win -- and first since he was victorious at this tournament last year -- Rumford said the course was getting tougher.

  "This is how it played at the Pro-Am and the greens dried out and the course changed completely from Wednesday to Thursday with all the rain," said Rumford.

  "As we all know it only takes on day of good weather to get these greens reacting so differently. I guess this will be the day. The weekend will be a completely different." McIlroy, chasing history in his quest to become the European Tour's third- youngest winner, was derailed Friday by a trio of bogeys -- including two on par threes.

  "It's always difficult to follow up a really low round. I've learned that before," said McIlroy, who also made three birdies during his even-par round.

  There was an off-the-course development Friday when it was announced that next year's European Masters will become the first European Tour event on European soil to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, signaling another step forward in the already strong relationship between the two circuits.

  Included in next year's field of 156 players will be 30 automatic berths for players from the Asian Tour, with 10 more spots to be offered as sponsor's exemptions.

  The collaborative effort is only new in that it will mark the first time the tours come together to sanction an event on European soil. Their relationship already extends back nearly a decade.

  "It is a terrific milestone for the Asian Tour," said Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han.

  "With the Asian Tour scheduled to visit Europe for the first time in 2009, I believe it will pave the way for our tour and playing members to enjoy greater achievements." There are several Asian players in the field this week. Among them, India's Gaurav Ghei and Digvijay Singh and China's Li Chao finished outside the even- par cut line.

  09/05 14:16:28 ET