Work to do for Willett but Fitzpatrick shines — BMW Masters

At 11 under par the 35-year-old Spaniard was one shot ahead of Thongchai Jaidee and Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, who was edged out by former US Open champion Justin Rose in the Hong Kong Open three weeks ago.

Ian Poulter carded a second consecutive 68 to join fellow Englishman Paul Casey and BMW PGA Championship victor Byeong Hun An on eight under, with Ross Fisher – who lost out in a play-off 12 months ago – another shot back alongside American Peter Uihlein.

And he was once again in contention at Lake Malaren Golf Club with an inward nine of 31 helping him get to 12 under and establish a comfortable cushion over Thongchai Jaidee and Sergio Garcia.

Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy is skipping this week’s tournament, giving the players immediately behind him in the standings, including Danny Willett, Shane Lowry, and Louis Oosthuizen, a chance to make up ground.

“It was nice to be able to finish like that and give myself a shot tomorrow, because I was getting a little bit far behind”, the world number 11 said.

Garcia said: “It’s the kind of round that you are looking for”.

Min-Jee Lee birdied No. 17 for the outright lead en route to a three-under 69 and a one-shot cushion after the second round of the US LPGA’s Lorena Ochoa Invitational on Friday.

I feel so great, I feel so good on the greens.

“There’s nothing different I’m going do on the golf course”, Lee said of the weekend play. “If I play well like this, keep performing like this, I’m going to have a good chance”.

The Dane trailed overnight leader Sergio Garcia for much of the day before surging into the lead with three birdies in his last four holes. “There were times when I was thinking I might be booking a flight home”.

Broberg and Reed both finished regulation at 17-under 271 after fine shot-making and dramatic momentum shifts that saw five players briefly share the lead on the back nine.

“I was very disappointed this morning when I wake up because I watch what happened in France”, he said. “A few of the holes were playing really long”.

DAVID Howell had an uneventful second round in Shanghai in the penultimate European Tour tournament of the season.