England's Nick Dougherty finally made his first cut of the year in Switzerland - but not with the round he was hoping for.
After crashing out at halfway in his previous 21 starts the 29 year old from Liverpool had opened the Omega European Masters with an eight under par 63 to lead by two.
But, first man out in the second round, Dougherty added only a one-over 72 and slipped one behind early clubhouse leader Simon Dyson.
"I had two things in my head - the tournament and getting the monkey of not making a cut off my back," he told his wife Diana – working in her role as a golf presenter.
"It was more difficult. I didn't play as well and I had a few iffy breaks, but I suppose you get what you deserve.
"Hopefully I can play with a bit more flair and flamboyance tomorrow. It was a little cagey."
Without a single penny in European Tour earnings this season, he had suddenly taken a huge leap towards keeping his card for next year.
But there is now an awful lot of work to be done for that.
Close friend Dyson has no such worries after winning the Irish Open a month ago and he moved out in front with a 68, taking the outright lead with a ten foot closing birdie putt.
Dyson said: “I’ve a lot of confidence since winning in Ireland. I probably found it at The Open. I started working on a drill and managed to carry it on since and it’s been pretty good.
“I’m going to work on my putting and if I can play how I have done the first few days and hole a few putts I’ll be right in the mix at the end again.
“My ball striking is up there again. I’m driving it well and my iron play is good, I’ve got it under control. I didn’t putt as well as yesterday but gave myself as many chances. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing and keep rolling along.”
Alongside Dougherty were two more English players - Gary Boyd and Danny Willett with a 64.
Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer had yet to tee off again on six under, while World Number Two Lee Westwood was five under and joint seventh with one to play and Open Champion Darren Clarke one further back.
Dougherty's playing partner Marc Warren went to the turn in 29 with an eagle and five birdies, but then bogeyed the last five holes and, having started with a 75, he missed the cut on two over.
Westwood holed from the fringe of the long ninth for a closing birdie and with a 69 was only two behind not only Dyson, but also Boyd after he birdied the difficult 16th.
Boyd said: “I got off to a very quick start with an eagle on the first and then threw three bogeys in the next four holes so it was a time to regroup and stay patient and I managed to make a few birdies coming in. It’s nice to be in contention again. This time of year seems to pay dividends for me. Let’s hope we can finish a tournament off.”
Eighteen year old Italian Matteo Manassero and former winner Alex Noren finished six under along with Westwood and they all then waited to see what McIlroy and Kaymer could do on their second lap of the Crans-sur-Sierre course.
Kaymer took only three holes to move alongside Dyson and Boyd on eight under, while McIlroy also birdied the par five first to be joint fourth with Dougherty and Willett.
