Soren Kjeldsen joins Matthew Fitzpatrick atop British Masters leaderboard

WOBURN, England // Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen joined England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick at the top of the British Masters leaderboard on Friday after both reached a 9-under total of 133 at the halfway stage.

Kjeldsen, who won the Irish Open earlier this year, made a 3-under 68 in his second round, while Fitzpatrick, the sole leader on day one, shot a 2-under 69.

England’s Richard Bland is a shot farther back, alongside Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

“I haven’t looked at any boards, I didn’t even realise I was leading,” said Kjeldsen, who is 13th in the Race to Dubai.

“I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, I’m enjoying myself going through the process and I’m hitting some nice shots.

“The other guys, I can’t tackle them, I can’t steal their ball, I can’t do anything about it so I may as well just concentrate on my stuff.”

Bridgestone Invitational winner Shane Lowry, of Ireland, is also in contention going into the weekend. He is two shots off the lead with 135.

Overnight leader Fitzpatrick said he’s not thinking yet about a breakthrough win.

“I wouldn’t say it’s something I’m concentrating on to be fair,” said the 2013 US Amateur champion.

“I’m just playing one hole, one round at a time if I’m honest and the big thing me and (manager) Chubby (Chandler) have been talking about is just creeping up the World Rankings as much as possible.

“If the win doesn’t come this week but I move up in the World Rankings, that’s good enough for me so if I can just keep moving up slowly that will be great.” Tournament host Ian Poulter is five shots behind on a 4-under total of 138, but confident of mounting a title charge despite having to endure “a smash around the head with a wet salmon”.

The 39-year-old Englishman suffered every amateur hacker’s nightmare in the second round, a complete mis-hit at the fifth hole that led to a double-bogey six.

“I just hit a shank,” Poulter said after a one-under-par 70 gave him a four-under aggregate of 138, five back of the leaders. “I’ve been there in the past and I’ll do it again. They are surprising but I know what causes them, that’s the annoying bit.

“It’s about committing to the shot as opposed to not committing to it. When I’m taking too much off a club I’ve got to be very careful because there’s a tendency to go a little quick.”

Poulter went from the ridiculous to the sublime by producing what he described as one of the best up and downs of his career to get away with a par four at the 13th.

“Seve (Ballesteros) would have been proud of that,” said Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman. “It really was outrageous.”

Poulter, the club professional at Woburn, said he can use local knowledge to overturn his deficit on the leaders on Saturday and Sunday.

“I’m on my home course and I know it well,” he said. “There is nothing else I can do apart from press now.

“Five shots back is very achievable on this course, the way I know these greens.”

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