"I would sum my round by just saying it was good. I had the total control of my golf ball." Fleetwood, who was a member of winning team in the European Team Championship in June, gave thanks also to the favorable weather. "Today we had the perfect scoring conditions and it stayed the same all day."

Fleetwood, currently ranked No. 2 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Men's World Rankings, is tied for the lead with Morten Ørum Madsen of Denmark, who fashioned a bogey-free 6-under 66 (34-32) on Thursday.

Another top-ranked player, Andrea Pavan of Italy, made a move with a 66 of his own. It could have been lower - Pavan made 7 birdies and an eagle before bogeying 2 holes coming in.

Pavan started his round among the last players starting after an even par first round and ended it almost at the top of the result board. “I knew approximately where the lead was going so I had a clear goal going on the course.”

He still has a little to chase tomorrow as he scored a 66 today and ended up sharing the sixth place. “Yesterday I played well and today even better. Tomorrow I’ll fix the things that still need some work.”