Hero Indian Open Round 2

Alex Fitzpatrick delivered the round of the tournament so far, carding a bogey-free 7-under 65 to storm into the 36-hole lead at the Hero Indian Open. Starting the day four shots back, the Englishman dismantled the difficult back nine with five birdies, including a spectacular 20-foot putt on the 18th to reach 10-under par for the tournament.

Fitzpatrick’s performance was a masterclass in course management, as he repeatedly opted for safety off the tee to ensure clear looks at the pins. Overnight leader Freddy Schott struggled to replicate his opening-day form, battling to a 2-under 70 to sit two strokes back at 8-under.

Schott remained in solo second despite a double-bogey on the par-4 14th, where a wayward drive found the thickest part of the DLF rough. Eugenio Chacarra stayed firmly in the hunt, posting a steady 69 to sit in third at 7-under, while Niklas Nørgaard and Calum Hill shared fourth at 6-under.

The local crowd had plenty to cheer about as Ajeetesh Sandhu moved into the top ten with a gritty 68, making him the highest-placed Indian heading into the weekend.