Fisher extends lead at Portugal Masters

• By Will Gray
• Oct 12, 2012 12:58 PM ET

Ross Fisher fired a 4-under 67 Friday to take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Portugal Masters as he seeks his first European Tour win in more than two years.

The Englishman's round was highlighted by an eagle 3 at the par-5 17th, as he managed just a pair of bogeys despite hitting only 12/18 greens in regulation. Fisher leads at the halfway point by three strokes over first-round co-leader Stephen Gallacher and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, whose 6-under 65 matched the low round of the day.

Ranked inside the top 30 two years ago after competing for Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, Fisher has fallen to 140th in the latest Official World Golf Ranking. His last Tour win came at the Irish Open during the summer of 2010.

Another player looking to break a long winless drought is Padraig Harrington, who shot a 4-under 67 Friday and sits in fourth place, four shots behind Fisher with two rounds to go. Harrington, without a victory since the 2008 PGA Championship, started his day 5 under after only 11 holes before cooling off on his second nine.

Among those missing the cut at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course were Martin Kaymer, who struggled to a second-round 75, and European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal, who posted a 4-over 75 for the second consecutive day in his first event since leading the Europeans to victory at Medinah.