Thomas Levet took over at the top from Soren Hansen in the Spanish Open today — but then needed treatment on a back problem suffered while commentating on The Masters.

“It's since working with you guys,” the former Ryder Cup player told the media after adding a 67 to his opening 64 at the PGA Catalunya, near Girona.

Levet went to Augusta for French TV last month and explained: “I'm not a sitting person — I'm a standing person. I spent hours in a chair and it started getting stiff. There were also two long flights and it's been bad for three weeks.”
The 40-year-old had resumed one behind Hansen after the Dane's course record-breaking 63 in the first round.

Six birdies helped him to the
13-under-par mark at halfway and Hansen was alongside him until he finished with a double-bogey six.

That gave Hansen, whose tournament started with a double bogey, a 70 and 11-under aggregate.
One further back after a 66 was Paul Lawrie, who is keen to remind people that he won the title in Seville last year.

“There's not a picture of me around the place,” lamented the 35-year-old.