Golf:Home favourite Alex Noren was in sparkling form at the Nordea Masters where a shared course record 66 gave the Swede a three shot lead at the halfway stage.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a flawless six birdie round on the Bro Hof Slott course in his native Stockholm to lead on 11 under par 133.
The two-time European Tour winner was clear of India's Shiv Kapur, who also carded an impressive 66 to get to eight under. Joint first round leader Jaco Van Zyl from South Africa (71) and American Bubba Watson (67) were five off the lead on six under.
“I played probably the best I’ve ever played,” said Noren, who won the Wales Open earlier in the season. "It’s just been great, everything has been going better.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done that on this course and I’ve played here a lot,” he added when asked about keeping a bogey off his card. “It really helps playing this course a lot. I know what lines there are and I know when to step back.”
Big-hitting Watson saw his eagle putt creep in at the ninth and birdied four in a row from the 12th, but The Ryder Cup star was still not satisfied with his 67.
“I struggled on the front nine,” he said. “Made a couple of dumb mistakes - three bogeys. Hit one in the water today - it could be better. I’m in a good position though, I’ve got to keep making birdies and hopefully not make any mistakes.
“I knew I was going to have a lot of short irons if I hit it over bunkers. There’s five par fives so you know I love that.”
Robert Karlsson (70) was in the pack on five under, while his amateur namesake could only manage a 75 to drop to two under. Damien McGrane (70) was also two under.
Starting his second round on the 10th, 41-year-old Karlsson reeled off four consecutive birdies from the 15th to turn in a three under par 33.
The 11-time European Tour winner had a chance to join Watson in third after playing his third shot off the rocks to six feet at the par five ninth, but missed the birdie putt.
“It’s always a fairly high scoring golf course,” he said. “At 15 I had long two-putt for birdie, 16 hit a good six iron to a couple of feet, then holed two long putts.”
Michael Hoey had a much better day with his 68 but the damage was done with an opening 83 and therefore missed the cut on seven-over.
