07 May 2022: Germany’s Hurly Long carded a four under par round of 68 at The Belfry to lead by one, but it was Danny Willett who roared into contention on the iconic Brabazon Course as he responded to an opening one over par 73 with a sublime 65 on day two to take his running fundraising total to £12,000 after 36 holes.
Shubhankar Sharma (73-74) and SSP Chawrasia (74-74) worked hard through the opening two rounds, but their valiant effort was just not enough to earn them the weekend.
Tournament sponsors Betfred have pledged to donate £1,000 for every birdie and £2,000 for every eagle the 2016 Masters Tournament winner makes this week. Tournament host Danny Willett raised £8,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by carding eight birdies on day two of the Betfred British Masters and in doing so moved to within three shots of leader Hurly Long at the halfway stage.
Long, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour in 2021, is one stroke clear of 2019 Betfred British Masters champion Marcus Kinhult, round one co-leader Thorbjørn Olesen and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay who all share second place on eight under par, with Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard a shot further back on seven under.
Willett is one of four players in a tie for sixth on six under, alongside countryman Marcus Armitage, South African Justin Walters, who lost in a play-off to Højgaard in the 2020 ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry, and Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg.
Danny Willett: “We played really good today. I think that was the only green we missed there on nine. Lots of birdies, lots of chances, took a lot. I’m trying to spend Betfred’s money, £8,000 more today to Prostate Cancer UK. We are going in the right direction.
“You know what, this game is so fine in margins. Holed a couple nice putts early on. Greens obviously are running nicely this morning. Just one of those days where hit a lot of really good golf shots and capitalised where we could.
“It was nice to kind of have a decent rest yesterday after we played, and up nice and early this morning, beautiful morning for golf, really. The weather has been kind to us these last two days so far.
“It was just really a tale of two halves. Today felt like me, yesterday felt like my brother. It’s nice to be in position going into the weekend. Fingers crossed we can play well. Crowds have been amazing. Even at 8.30 this morning, they were a few rows deep down ten. Fingers crossed they keep piling in and we can play well.”
Hurly Long: “It was good. I thought the conditions were quite a bit more difficult today with the wind and it’s a bit cooler and there’s a lot of tough holes out here but despite not driving it my best, the irons were really good again and so I did give myself some opportunities and yeah, took them when I could. So yeah, I’m happy.
“The game is good, and I know that if I play the way I can play, that I can compete out here. So I’m certainly not scared to do well. I think that’s something I’ve learned over time and I’m just enjoying it. It’s awesome. We play great courses and great guys out here, so it’s been great.”
