Justin Rose has a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Betfred British Masters as he seek a second title, 21 years after his first, on a day when Tom McKibbin and John Murphy missed the cut.
Rose admitted he was delighted with a "gutsy" 73 which kept him in contention at The Belfry.
The Englishman held a one-shot lead after a superb opening 65, but it was a different story on Friday as he covered his first 10 holes in four-over par.
However, the former world number one rallied to card four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine and finished the day on six under, tied for the lead with France's Antoine Rozner.
"A good result out of the day I think and also generally feel pretty decent with how I played today," said Rose afterwards.
"Just three three-putts and one or two little errors which crept in but not too bad considering what was a tough afternoon.
"I did readjust and tried say to myself I can make three birdies coming in down the last seven holes and that's kind of how it played out.
"It was a good gutsy finish I suppose and dinner will taste good because of that. Through 36 holes I'm in a great spot."
Tom McKibbin (74) and John Murphy (81) finished five over and 12 over respectively.
Rose and Rozner enjoyed a one-shot lead over a seven-strong group of players which included defending champion Thorbjorn Olesen, former Ryder Cup players Oliver Wilson and Andy Sullivan and English amateur John Gough.
Sullivan dodged a fine for swearing as he moved into contention for a fifth DP World Tour title with a second round of 68, the 37-year-old making five birdies in the space of six holes from the 12th.
Scotland's Ewen Ferguson and Robert MacIntyre lie two shots off the lead on four under par, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson slipped four strokes off the pace after following his opening 66 with a 76.
Compatriot Rhys Enoch holed out from 220 yards with a four iron to make an albatross on the par-five third hole, a second round of 69 leaving him one under par.
