Matthew Baldwin consolidated his strong start with a brilliant 66 to sit two shots clear after day two of the BMW PGA Championship.
Related: Brilliant Baldwin breezes to Wentworth summit
The Englishman was one of two players – the other was Frenchman Jeong weon Ko – to keep a clean card during Thursday’s opening round of 65 at the third Rolex Series tournament of the year, and he continued his fine form on Friday.
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The 38-year-old rolled in six birdies and just one bogey – his only dropped shot of the tournament so far – through 16 holes before the threat of lightning suspended play after he had teed off at the penultimate hole.
But not even a delay of an hour and 17 minutes could distract as he immediately added another gain at the 17th to set the clubhouse target of 13 under, which equalled the tournament record set by Paul McGinley in 2008.
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Niklas Nørgaard, who won his maiden DP World Tour title at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo earlier this month, carded an eagle, four birdies and a bogey to reach 11 under. Frenchman Antoine Rozner birdied six of the last seven holes, including five in a row to finish his round, to catapult himself into third at ten under following his 65.
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Four-time Major Champion Rory McIlroy is one shot back at nine under par alongside fellow past champion Matteo Manassero, while 2021 Champion Billy Horschel was in at eight under.
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Due to the weather delay, 15 players will finish their second rounds on Saturday morning from 07:10 local time. Due to the inclement weather forecast, round three will be a two-tee start from holes one and nine and will not start before 09.00.
Player quotes
Matt Baldwin: Incredibly pleased. Incredibly proud of how I’ve played so far. There’s a long way to go. Keep doing the same things, should be a good week.
Just playing sensible golf, really, I guess. I’m trying not to hit it too close, which obviously then forces you, sometimes you can get short-sided and things like that. So I’ve been putting really well, which has kept momentum going and it’s worked out all right.
Trying to just play golf, and I know that physically the things that I’m doing in my golf swing are correct and you know, the shots that I’m hitting are showing that, which from that, obviously settles your mind a little bit and just try and enjoy it as much as you can.
Niklas Nørgaard: Very similar. It’s been the same kind of recipe. I’ve been fortunate to have a very good driver this week, and yeah, the course can be tricky if you’re not straight, and I have been. So setting up opportunities for birdie and converting a few of them.
I missed the cut last year and that was the first time I’m here. I’m learning every time, and I have a caddie who is the same, and I think we are trying to find our way around. Maybe that can make it a little bit more easier because we have to be so much more in it and take everything into consideration. So far it’s worked all right.
I definitely feel that on the course. It feels easier to be in this position. But as golf is, there’s always the next, and I’m trying not to think too much about it. But there are those PGA TOUR cards, as well, and that’s on my radar now.
Antoine Rozner: I’m very happy. To be very honest with you I’ve been struggling a little bit with my game a little, so to this this type of round today was very good. I’m very happy. I holed some very good putts on the last few, and I hit the ball very solid. Never really put myself in trouble out there. Super happy.
I was being very careful with the strategy. You can’t really miss on some places out there. So I was being very careful. We’ve done a great job with my caddie, and again, I made some good putts. So it’s always a big help out here.
Rory McIlroy: I think pretty similar again. Played very solid. Didn’t make a ton of mistakes. I had a couple of nice up-and-downs when I needed to. It was nice to birdie two of the last three and get away with a par on 17, as well. Overall, happy with how I’ve finished the day, and you know, ready for the weekend.
I’m happy with where I’m at. I could have been a little better but also I think it could have been a little worse, as well. Yeah, I mean, four behind going into the weekend, not too many people between me and the lead. It’s a good position to be in.
So you know, a couple of things I want to still try to work on over the next couple days but I’m happy to be where I’m at, and feel like I gave myself another good chance to win this tournament.
It’s hard, you’re trying to make subtle changes weeks at golf tournaments, which probably isn’t the right time to do it, but I’ve just played so much this year I haven’t had a chance to get a stretch where I can spend two or three weeks at home and really dig into it.
I just made a decision after The TOUR Championship that I needed to change a few things. Started just a little bit before the Irish Open and I’ve just tried to continue that. Hopefully if I do some practice, it will bed in, but it will be nice to get some time here in a couple months where I can do some harder work on it and come out in 2025 feeling a lot more comfortable.
It’s amazing. Obviously last week, I don’t know if there’s anything that will compare to that scene on 18 on Sunday last week. But I mean, the crowds out here for the first two days, it’s incredible. It’s a proper golf tournament. It’s the way it’s supposed to feel. And it’s a pleasure to play in front of them in that atmosphere and looking forward to it for another two days.
