Schwartzel and Fraser share halfway lead in Madrid
Charl Schwartzel defied feeling unwell to produce a superb second round at the Madrid Masters and share the halfway lead with Marcus Frased on nine under par at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.Australian Fraser - who led with Paul Broadhurst and Magnus A Carlsson overnight on four under after an opening 67 – went one better with a 66.
South Africa's Schwartzel produced a six under 65 to improve on his first day 68.
Starting at the tenth, Schwartzel gained shots on three consecutive holes with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 15th.
He came back in a four under par 32, thanks largely to an eagle three at the 518 yard par five fourth, which he followed with birdies at the seventh and eighth.
But Schwartzel admitted he was not feeling at his best.
"I've got a shoulder problem and I'm feeling sick," he said.
"I phoned my Dad this morning and he told me to tee off and see how it goes. So I did that and then I got a couple of birdies and I started to feel better.
"After that the sun came out and I didn't feel my shoulder so much. I'm on antibiotics and I don't feel that strong. But that was a very solid round of golf and I'm in a very good position."
Fraser registered birdies at the first, third and fourth as he got of to a good start.
But his work was undone with three straight bogeys at the sixth, seventh and eighth, only for a birdie at the 411 yard tenth to put him back in a share of the lead.
That was the start of a dazzling back nine 30, with further birdies coming at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th.
"I like the course," he said. "It's a bit shorter than other weeks, not so much of a slog-fest, which suits me well because it tests your short game.
"I feel like I'm playing quite well overall."
The pair hold a two shot advantage over Robert Rock and Steven Jeppesen.
The Englishman produced a bogey free 65 to reach seven under.
He picked up shots at the second, fourth, seventh and par three ninth on the way out.
And on the back nine Rock registered birdies at the 14th and 375 yard 15th.
Sweden's Jeppesen eagled both par fives on the front nine, with a solitary birdie and bogey on the way in.
Four players are grouped on six under - Paolo Terreni, Stephen Gallacher, Paul Waring and Spain's Santiago Luna.
Italian Terreni improved on his opening level par round with a fine 65 which included six birdies and two bogeys as well as an eagle at the par five 14th.
The 32 year old has won little more than 2,000 euros this season, and is delighted to be at the right end of the leaderboard for once.
"When a player starts to miss lots of cuts it's always in their mind," he said.
"Then when you do make one it feels like a victory.
"This is my last event on The European Tour this year and I told myself to enjoy it and just go for the pin. I would like to finish with a good performance. Today was perfect and I hope it continues."Return to Other Tours archives