Published Friday, 06 July 2012
Graeme McDowell plays a shot during the second round of the French Open. (© Getty)
McDowell finished on one under par, while Darren Clarke and Michael Hoey both finished four over, and Gareth Maybin finished six over.
Clarke looked to have paid a huge price for one nightmare hole - a quadruple-bogey eight at the seventh, his third last hole.
The 43-year-old Ulsterman, playing his last tournament before he defends the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham in a fortnight, had been in 20th place as he stood on the tee.
But his second shot found gorse and after taking a penalty drop he went into a bunker, came out short of the green and took three more from there.
Clarke dropped another stroke on the next, but his 76 was still four better than playing partner Paul Casey.