Tyrrell Hatton will take a one-shot lead into the third round of the British Masters after justifying his position as pre-tournament favourite at The Belfry.
Hatton exploited ideal conditions for the early starters to fire a second round of 65 for a halfway total of 10 under par, with South Africa’s Brandon Stone, Spain’s Jorge Campillo and France’s Jeong weon Ko all nine under.
Competing on the DP World Tour after appealing against the sanctions imposed on him for playing LIV events without permission, Hatton carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey on Friday, although his best shot of the day was a recovery shot worthy of the late Seve Ballesteros on the sixth.
Hatton’s tee shot stopped just a few feet from a water hazard and left him facing a 217-yard shot under overhanging tree branches, but the Ryder Cup star hit a superb four iron on to the green to set up an easy par.