Matthew Baldwin remains on top, defending champion Ryan Fox makes back-to-back hole-outs and Tommy Fleetwood showcases his brilliant iron play.
Everything you need to know from the second round at Wentworth Club.
Calm before and after the storm
Matthew Baldwin continued where he left off on Thursday by steamrolling his opponents with another assured display on the second day. The Englishman rolled in six birdies and just one bogey - his only one of the tournament to date - through 16 holes. But not even a delay of an hour and 17 minutes could distract the 38-year-old as he immediately added another gain at the 17th to set the clubhouse target of 13 under par. "Incredibly pleased. Incredibly proud of how I've played so far," Baldwin said. "There's a long way to go. Keep doing the same things, should be a good week. It was a great day. I putted well today. Obviously first thing this morning, greens were as good as they get. It's been a long day to be fair with a slight delay at the end. But all in all, it's been great."
Rory roars back into contention
Rory McIlroy moved into contention on Friday thanks to a patient 68 which yielded five birdies and a solitary bogey. He picked up his first shot at the fourth before a delightful approach to concessional range at the sixth saw him climb to seven under. A bogey came at the eighth but he responded by narrowly missing an eagle putt at the 12th. The Northern Irishman drained a 11-foot putt for birdie at the 16th before reaching the last in two, with his eagle effort just sliding by as he headed into the weekend four shots off the lead. "It's been solid. I think nine under is fair reflection of how I've played over the first couple of days," said McIlroy, who finished second at last week's Amgen Irish Open. "Overall pretty pleased with where I'm at on the leaderboard, there's a few scrappy things that I'm trying to iron out of the game. I wouldn't have liked the week off to wallow in self-pity and whatever else I'd be doing if I hadn't have played. To come back out and get straight back on the golf course and play a couple of solid rounds and give myself another chance at a really big tournament that means a lot to me, yeah I thought it was important to do that."
Nerveless Nørgaard nudges along
Niklas Nørgaard was flawless on the front nine with birdies at the first, fifth and sixth before he produced a stunning approach at the par-five 12th to six feet for an eagle to become Baldwin's closest rival. A bogey followed at the 14th, but he got on the par-five last in two for a tap-in birdie to finish two shots adrift of the leading Englishman. "Actually very similar, it's been the same kind of recipe," Norgaard said. "I've been fortunate to have a very good driver this week, the course can be tricky if you aren't straight and I have been, so setting up opportunities for birdie and converting a few of them."
Fleetwood dials in
Tommy Fleetwood was back to his best as he carded a four-under 68 courtesy of an eagle, four birdies and two dropped shots on Friday. The best of the lot came at the par-five fourth when he put his approach inside four feet for a gimme eagle following a bogey on the previous hole.
The Southport native went even closer at the next, sticking his tee-shot on the par-three hole to concessional range for a birdie.
The World Number 12 capped off a stellar front nine with his approach at the eighth to pick up yet another shot.
Fantastic Mr Fox
The defending champion has not had much to shout about during his first two days at Wentworth Club, but Ryan Fox produced two of the best shots of Friday's rounds on back-to-back holes. Firstly at the 15th, the New Zealander ran out of position and needed this for bogey...
...Fox then hit an even better approach at the next. Stunning.
Bob's double chip-in
Robert MacIntyre, who is the latest Rolex Series winner after his success at the Genesis Scottish Open in July, showed his class with this lovely chip for an unlikely birdie at the 14th.
Some @robert1lefty magic! 🪄#BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/2pLmdUn50o
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 20, 2024
And then he produced this at the penultimate hole for an eagle. X Factor from the Scot.