Matthew Fitzpatrick and Eddie Pepperell both felt their Ryder Cup hopes were very much still alive heading into the weekend at the Made in Denmark.
The duo each require a win to have any chance of dislodging Thorbjørn Olesen from the final automatic qualifying spot in Thomas Bjørn's Team, with all three players making the cut at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club.
Fitzpatrick would need Olesen to finish in a three-way tie for seventh or worse for victory to guarantee his place at Le Golf National, while Pepperell needs the Dane to finish outside the top 12.
The biggest 36-hole deficit made up by a winner this season was nine shots by Alex Noren at the HNA Open de France, and Fitzpatrick will have to match that after a second-round 68 moved him to four under - nine behind midway leader Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Pepperell was one shot better off after a 69, with Olesen just making it into the weekend on the cut line at two under after a 69 of his own.
Here, we take a look at what the three contenders had to say after two days in Denmark.
Eddie Pepperell (69, -5)
“I felt like around the green I hit a few good shots and I hit plenty of good three woods. There wasn't much showing off in between that. That's as good as I've hit a three wood for a long time, I think I only missed one fairway with it. I was hitting it a good distance and I was pretty much in play on every hole today so three under from there is actually pretty disappointing with the conditions we had. I've got a fair bit of work to do if I want to win this golf tournament, certainly with my irons. I would imagine I would need to get at least 15, 16 under par and that's ten, 12 under for the weekend - I can do that. I'm definitely hitting enough good shots, I'm hitting the ball well enough off the tee, the putter feels pretty good despite not holing a lot - I feel like I'm putting nice. Just fix those irons and it'll be good to go out there for me.”
Matthew Fitzpatrick (68, -4)
“I definitely left a few out there. I played well today but this feels like the whole season has been. Getting to three, four under and then just not pushing on. The putts seem to have dried up a little but hopefully it can finally turn around over the weekend. Obviously I need a very low scoring weekend to win but that is not impossible. It will take a silly low weekend, though. I think if I could shoot a couple of 64s then I would have a chance.”
Thorbjørn Olesen (69, -2)
“It was a bit like yesterday. I actually feel really comfortable with the swing and set up but I am just losing it a little bit with the driver and irons. But it’s very close - I just need to find a little bit more. I felt a lot more comfortable out there than I did yesterday. I was quite nervous and unsettled yesterday but today I was comfortable the whole way round. I feel like I am very close to shooting a low number and playing the way I have been for the last three months or so.”
