Friday May 21, 2010, 01:48 PM

Luke Donald put together a second successive round of 68 to move to six-under par and the top of the leader board on day two of the European PGA Championship here on Friday.

Donald was one shot clear of first round leader Danny Willett when he finished his round but was immediately usurped by the youngster, playing in the afternoon, when Willett birdied the first two holes of his second round to go to eight-under par, two ahead.

Ernie Els, architect of the revamped Wentworth, put his poor first round finish behind him to make three birdies in the first five holes of his second to move to five-under.

Defending champion Paul Casey had a 68 to put him at four-under along with Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed, who signed for a 70 and Chris Wood, of England.

Rory McIlroy shot a second round 69 to get back to one-over par for the tournament and along with Lee Westwood was facing a nervous wait, after a 74 left the Englishman two-over par and struggling to make the cut.

Donald has not won on the European or PGA Tours since 2006 but victory this week would boost his chances of making Colin Montgomerie's European Ryder Cup team for the match against the United States at Celtic Manor in October.

Donald played in European wins in 2004 and 2006 but missed the last edition after wrist trouble and is desperate to make amends.

He said: "Ryder Cup is always a goal of mine. I have had probably two of the best experiences on a golf course in The Ryder Cup.

"The way we dominated the Americans in those events, the camaraderie and team atmosphere - it is very different to what we play in week, week out.

"Having great experiences like that can spur you on in your individual game - you saw it with Ian Poulter a couple of years ago and it has happened to other players as well.

"So it is important to make that team."

Donald had three birdies on the front nine, and was level par coming back as he plotted his way around the new lay-out.

Playing partner McIlroy said: "It was a tricky course and now it is trickier. But Luke is the most patient player in the world and it suits him down to the ground."

McIlroy had retired to the range after day one to work on his game following a disappointing opening round of 74.

He was back to level par for the tournament after five holes of the second round after three straight birdies from third. But a double bogey at the par-4 14th and a bogey five at the 15th set him back.

The Irishman said he was hoping for a repeat of his heroics at Quail Hollow three weeks ago when he just made the cut and shot a last round 62 to win the tournament by four shots.

He added: "That would be nice! It was a better round but it could have been better. I am putting well enough - I have just got to put it all together."

© 2010 AFP/sid