Casey is chasing his first Order of Merit title

DAY TWO LEADERBOARD:
GB & Ire unless stated
-12 B Dredge CN
-10 C Schwartzel (SA) SA, J Edfors (Swe) SA
-9 P Harrington, V Singh (Fij) SA
Selected others:
-8 E Els (SA) SA
-7 P Casey SA, R Karlsson (Swe) SA
-6 H Stenson (Swe) SA
-4 C Montgomerie SA
+3 D Howell SA
* KB: Kingsbarns, SA: St Andrews, CN: Carnoustie

Paul Casey increased his lead over Order of Merit rival David Howell to 10 shots at the halfway stage of the Dunhill Links Championship.

Despite driving out of bounds on the 18th at St Andrews and making a double-bogey six, his round of 74 put him seven-under for the tournament.

It left him level with Robert Karlsson and two behind Padraig Harrington, who can both also win the Merit crown.

Bradley Dredge leads the pro-am event by two shots after a second-round 67.

Casey is currently �80,000 ahead of Howell and �250,000 ahead of Karlsson in the Order of Merit race but with a first prize of �427,000 available and the season-ending Volvo Masters still to come, the title is still up for grabs.

Henrik Stenson, Harrington and Colin Montgomerie are also in the running.

Casey, the overnight leader, was disappointed after his round, saying: "I was trying to sneak it up the right-hand side on 18 and just hit a poor drive.

It looks like I'm going to fall at the final hurdle David Howell

"Everything that went well yesterday went wrong today. I didn't make any putts and didn't have control of the golf ball particularly well, and that caught up with me on the inward half.

"Although I got off to a good start with two birdies, it was difficult to get any momentum with the time everything was taking - the round lasted almost six hours - and having to wait on every hole.

"When you're shooting two over par there are plenty of other things to think about other than the Order of Merit - but I'm looking forward to playing Carnoustie on Saturday.

"It's a difficult course but it makes you hit good shots, and if you do you will be rewarded. If you don't the score could be a lot worse than today."

Howell, who followed his opening round 75 with a 72, said: "I don't think I'm the only one suffering a comedown after the Ryder Cup. It looks like I'm going to fall at the final hurdle.

"If I can shoot 65 at Carnoustie I might just have a chance of staying in there, but Paul has everything in his hands."

Dredge, who is out of contention for the Order of Merit, led after a 68 at Carnoustie which followed his opening 64 at St Andrews.

He said: "I have always found it hard to score around St Andrews.

"I must have played 40 or 50 rounds there and I think to score well there is a lot to do with course knowledge.

"I seem to be getting better at it. But it has taken me a while to be successful around that course, that's for sure.

"Carnoustie is tough but you can see a lot more of the trouble around here and you've just got to keep hitting good shots."