Scotland’s Grant Forrest has nudged ahead of the pack to lead the Open de Espana after two rounds, but Spanish favourite Sergio Garcia saw his challenge stall.
Forrest, compatriot Connor Syme and Spain's Eugenio Chacarra were in a three-way tie after 18 holes but Forrest’s round of 67 was enough to see him stay top on his own at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
He picked up four shots in the round to sit nine under overall, with Syme slipping one off the pace to share second spot with Joel Girrbach, who signed for a fine 64.
Chacarra finished on on seven under alongside Joe Dean, the highest placed Englishman.
Garcia, one of those whose time in LIV Golf appears to be coming to a close, was one shot behind the leading trio after the opening round but was level par on Friday to drop down the leaderboard.
New Zealand's Daniel Hillier, who won a $225,000 BMW for a hole-in-one at the 17th during Thursday's first round, was almost at it again at the 11th but eventually returned a quieter 69 to slip from joint fourth to equal sixth.
Jason Scrivener led the three-strong Australian contingent but his second-round 73 left him one over and back in joint 61st. David Micheluzzi and Elvis Smylie were two shots behind him.
