Former Ryder Cup winning captain Bernhard Langer admitted that if Rory McIlroy stood in front of him and asked for advice on how to improve his game, the prolific winning German would be lost for words.

Langer completed a second day in the company of McIlroy and carded a 68 to move to eight under par and two strokes clear of the Ulsterman in the BMW International Open in Munich.

Langer heads into today's third round just four strokes adrift of South African Retief Goosen who had to battle biting insects in a round of 68 to head the field by a stroke on 12-under par.

Goosen walked onto the course wearing a lime green cap and similar coloured shirt that acted like a magnet to the insects but he later swapped caps and covered up his shirt by wearing a blue rain top.

Last January, dual Major champion Mark O'Meara played alongside McIlroy during the opening two days of the Dubai Desert Classic before McIlroy proceeded to capture a maiden Tour success.

O'Meara dubbed McIlroy 'a better ball-striker and technically better at 19 years of age than Tiger (Woods) was at 19'.

Now, after two rounds of one major German event the 51-year old Langer has never won, the double Augusta National winner has joined O'Meara in singing McIlroy's praise.

“Rory has the most perfect technique I've ever seen in any player in the world,” said Langer.

“He's absolutely on plane. He has a lot of acceleration through the ball and if I was to stand in front of Rory and he asked me 'is there anything in my game I can improve on' I wouldn't know what to say.

“The only aspect that perhaps Rory needs to improve is his putting and to gain a little more experience.

“The European Tour is in very good hands with the likes of Rory. It's just wonderful to come back to the European Tour and to witness how much talent there is.

“Rory has such a bright future and all he needs to do is keep plugging along and stay healthy.”

McIlroy's quest for a second Race to Dubai win kicked-in when he birdied four holes within a five-hole stretch mid-round.

But the 20-year dropped successive shots at the 16th and 17th holes before scrambling brilliantly from rough down his last hole to end with a birdie.

“I started off really well and had a good middle section to the round but then I wasn't quite able to finish it off,” he said.

“I am now six behind so I have a lot of work to do over the weekend and I will need a good day tomorrow to try and make a charge on Sunday.”

Peter Lawrie, at seven under par, is the best placed of the five Irish to make the three-under par halfway cut.

“I played very solid and hit 17 greens in regulation which is something I can say I've never done this season,” he said.

“The only thing I can fault my game is that I am not getting it close enough.

“But in saying that seven under par is well up there and you want to be at least seven or eight under par given that 12-under par is currently leading.

“I would love to be a few more as I played well enough but you take what you are given in this game.”

Ballyclare's Gareth Maybin produced an outward 31 for an eventual 68 and a five under par total to break a run of three missed cuts.

Gary Murphy (70) and Michael Hoey (71) are at three under par but missing the cut for a third occasion in his pro career was 3 Irish Open champion Shane Lowry.

Lowry had moved to two under par through 11 holes courtesy of four birdies but played the remaining seven holes in two over par to card a 70 for a level par tally.

Also missing the cut after a solid four under par start was Paul McGinley who shot a 75 for a one under par total.