Matt Fitzpatrick on song in Alps as Ryder Cup race hots up

Matt Fitzpatrick is still on track to nab one of the remaining automatic Ryder Cup spots as he leads by a solitary stroke at the midway point at the Omega European Masters in the Swiss Alps.

The 2022 US Open champion followed up his 63 on Thursday with a 65, following a birdie blitz on the back nine.

For much of the afternoon, we were threatened with the novel spectacle of two siblings teeing it up in the final pairing of DP World Tour event, with Alex Fitzpatrick climbing to 10-under after a second successive 65.

Sweden's Alexander Bjork scuppered the plans with a second round 64 to climb to 11-under, taking second pot on his own.

From the Ryder Cup perspective, the elder Fitzpatrick will take the third and final spot on the World Points list ahead of Tommy Fleetwood should he finish tied-7th or better in Switzerland.

Fleetwood currently occupies third spot in the World list but isn't playing this weekend.

The race for the third and final spot in the European points list, meanwhile, was a six-way battle, with Scotland's Rob MacIntyre in pole position at the beginning of the week.

However, one of his pursuers Adrian Meronk is well in the mix to unseat him, even after a messy finish to his second round.

Nine under par with three holes to play