Danny Willett is refusing to look too far ahead despite claiming a one shot halfway lead at the Omega European Masters with a sparkling 62 in Crans Montana.
The Nedbank Golf Challenge winner sits third on The Race to Dubai after a string of impressive performances, including third place at the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship, sixth at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and sixth in last weekend’s Open Championship.
The Englishman also held a one shot lead on Friday at St Andrews, having completed his second round before the weather delays that pushed the tournament into Monday, and this time around the 27 year old is keen to convert his good start.
Willett carded nine birdies against a single bogey in reaching 13 under par, one shot ahead of the Korean duo of Baek Seuk-hyun and YE Yang.
It was very, very good, right from the get-go.
Danny Willett
“I hit it well on the range this morning, got into a nice rhythm early doors and carried it through the whole round. Every part of my game felt pretty good today; I controlled my ball really well all day and my putter stayed hot for the whole day.
“I’m better mentally now than I was. Over these last two weeks especially, I haven’t been getting too far ahead of myself, and every time I’ve got in trouble I’ve just taken my medicine and moved onto the next.
“I didn’t actually hit the ball that well for the last two holes, but still managed to make par, whereas before, I might’ve got annoyed with myself and dropped a shot or two.”
Willett reached both the 14th and 15th greens in two, and had he produced an eagle on either hole then his chances of recording The European Tour’s first 59 would have been strong, but the World Number 32 admitted the thought had not crossed his mind.
“I forgot it’s a par 70 here, so a 59 is probably more likely than at most other places,” he added. “But it’s just nice to get in with a low score, especially as it looks like the weather’s starting to come in.”
Yang and Baek shot matching rounds of 63 to share second place on 12 under, with Swedish amateur Marcus Kinhult alone in four on nine under.
Yang, the 2009 US PGA Champion, has not won anywhere since 2010, but followed up Thursday’s 65 with a seven under par round which was swiftly matched by compatriot Baek, who defied having made only one cut all season on the co-sanctioning Asian Tour with five birdies and an eagle on the long 15th.
“The conditions were ideal and my putting was good as well, so I’m very happy,” said Yang.
“I managed to judge the ball distance better as the ball flies ten per cent further due to the altitude - it’s beautiful, with the mountains and scenery.”
Kinhult impressed with a round of 66 on his 19th birthday, with his compatriot Rikard Karlberg, defending champion David Lipsky, Australian Richard Green and French pair Grégory Havret and Raphaël Jacquelin a shot further back.
Playing the back nine first, Karlberg made back-to-back birdies at the sixth and seventh, only to drop a shot when he shanked his drive and three-putted on the ninth.
But following a top-ten finish at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, the 28 year old feels his game is in a good place.
“I’m feeling confident and hopefully I can build on that confidence for the rest of the week here,” he said.
Overnight leader Havret had a hole-in-one and an eagle in round one, but he struggled to make any gains like that during his second round, picking up just two birdies.
Sergio Garcia finished on one under par and, after a lengthy wait, looks likely to have made the cut with nothing to spare.
Lightning forced play to be abandoned for the day shortly before 6pm, with 36 players having to return at 7.30am on Saturday to complete their rounds. English pair Richard Bland and Seve Benson are best-placed of those yet to finish on six under.
