Magnus A Carlsson continued to lead as the second round of the Nordea Masters got underway, but he had two of the tournament’s star names closing in on him.
A couple of pars at the start of his round kept the 31 year old, whose runner-up finish in Madeira last month matched his best performance on The European Tour, on seven under par at Bro Hof Slott after a magnificent opening 65.
Carlsson, looking to become the third consecutive Swede to win this event after Richard S Johnson and Alex Noren’s victories in 2010 and 2011, carded eight birdies and dropped his only shot of the day at the 18th on day one.
But just one behind were another home favourite, Peter Hanson, and World Number Three Lee Westwood.
Hanson overcame a double bogey at the 11th – his second – with three birdies in the next four holes to reduce the deficit to one.
And England’s Westwood had three birdies in his first seven holes after starting on the back nine to join his Ryder Cup teammate on six under.
Spain’s Ignacio Garrido, yet to tee off, had been joined by South African Richard Sterne on five under.
