Journeyman ties 36-hole record at Wentworth to lead by two; McIlroy four shots back
Matthew Baldwin is setting an unexpectedly hot pace at the BMW PGA Championship after shooting 6-under 66 to establish a two-stroke lead after the second round
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Three weeks ago, Matthew Baldwin was laughing at himself for mishitting a drive so badly that the ball went between his legs and advanced just one yard in front of the tee markers.
On Friday, the No. 363-ranked journeyman from England was the second-round leader by two strokes at the flagship event on the European tour and preparing himself for the biggest weekend of his career.
The 38-year-old Baldwin shot 6-under 66 to set an unexpectedly hot pace at the BMW PGA Championship at 13 under, which tied the prestigious tournament’s 36-hole record. Many of Europe's top players — including Rory McIlroy, who shot 68 to be four strokes off the lead — were having a hard time getting near him.
It's quite the story, with Baldwin having gone through the tour’s qualifying school six times in a turbulent career that, just two years ago, saw him playing on the Challenge Tour — the level below the European tour — and ranked just inside the top 850 in the world. He was back on the main tour last year when he earned his only pro win, at the SDC Championship in South Africa.
