August 22-25
Hills Golf & Sports Club, Gothenburg, Sweden
€1,500,000
Live leaderboard
Round 1, Round 3, Round 4

Former champion Matthew Fitzpatrick holds a two shot lead at the halfway stage of the Scandinavian Invitation but has home hero Henrik Stenson breathing down his neck after an afternoon of low scoring at Hills Golf & Sports Club.

“It's been a great the past two days. Everything going to plan so not sure what else to say.

“This summer has been really big for me in a lot of things. I have struggled the past three or four summers, and not had the results I have wanted or what I was working for, and this year we have been a little bit different. I have worked on my back foot shot and along with a lot of other good practise stuff we have been doing away from the tournaments, so it is paying off so far."

Englishman Fitzpatrick and Gothenburg native Stenson treated the huge crowds following their group to a golfing masterclass on Friday, making the most of pleasant afternoon conditions to surge to the top section of the leaderboard.

Fitzpatrick, who won this event in 2016, holed a series of huge putts on the back nine as he carded six birdies and a single bogey in his second round 65 to head into the weekend on 11 under par.

Stenson, meanwhile, reeled off six birdies in a row around the turn before putting the finishing touches to his stunning 62 with a birdie to sit alone in a tie for second place alongside Wu Ashun on nine under, one shot clear of early clubhouse leaders Joakim Lagergren and Jason Scrivener.

“It was a good day," said Stenson. "There aren't too many times you are shooting 62 and you start with a bogey. It felt a big distance walking off the first green that I was going to shoot eight under today, but I got great support out there. A lot of people came out despite the weather in the morning, so I tried to please them, and I think I did.

“I just try to hit the shots to the places I wanted to, put some really good swings on the ball out there, and when I didn't do that, I made it up with the putter. I was rolling it good today, made most of them, even though it always stinks to miss a three-footer on the second last hole but all in all a very good day out there.

“I am just happy to play a good round today. I was a was quite some way back after the first round, so to have a good score today and make up some ground to be in contention for the weekend feels pretty good. A lot of golf left to be played and Matt is playing really solid, so I think he is going to be the one to try and catch at this point.”

The early risers found low scores hard to come by following persistent overnight rain and blustery morning conditions but the weather improved throughout the day and Fitzpatrick, Wu and Stenson were able to take full advantage.