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Scottish Open: Ludvig Aberg sets clubhouse lead at 12 under on day two – BBC Sport

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Scottish Open: Ludvig Aberg sets clubhouse lead at 12 under on day two – BBC Sport

Image caption, Ludvig Aberg only turned professional in June last year

  • Author, Martin Watt
  • Role, BBC Sport Scotland at The Renaissance Club

Scottish Open second round leaderboard

-12 L Aberg (Swe); -11 A Rozner (Fra); -10 S Im (Kor), M Manassero (Ita); -9 S Theegala (US), -8 N Hojgaard (Den), M Hughes (Can); -7 N Norgaard (Den), T Detry (Bel), S Cink (US)

Selected others: -6 J Thomas (US), B Harman (US); -4 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), G Forrest (Sco); -2 H Matsuyama (Jpn); -1 J Spieth (US)

Swedish sensation Ludvig Aberg impressively compiled a second successive 64 to set the clubhouse target on day two of the Scottish Open.

The 24-year-old went bogey free and carded six birdies to reach 12 under at the Renaissance Club, a shot clear of Frenchman Antoine Rozner.

First-round leader Justin Thomas faltered with a two-over 72 to fall six off the pace, while Italy’s Matteo Mannassero tore round in 63 to sit 10 under alongside Sungjae Im.

Collin Morikawa and fellow American Sahith Theegala are handily positioned three off the top.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy – who opened with a 65 – and last year’s runner-up, Robert McIntyre, were among the later starters on Friday.

Aberg, who burst on to the professional scene with a PGA Tour win and debut Ryder Cup success last year, already looks a natural on the biggest stages.

Having finished runner-up in his first major at the Masters in April, Aberg led at halfway in the US Open last month and will make his Open debut at Royal Troon next week.

He was nonchalance personified as he matched his opening round in East Lothian.

With conditions once again favourable, the Swede made hay as the sun shone, picking up strokes on 11 – his second hole – and 14 before superseding Im at the top of the leaderboard with back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17.

Two more followed on the par-five third and short fifth when Aberg splashed out of bunkers each time and rolled in the putts.

“I wouldn’t describe myself as a superstar – all I try to do is play good golf,” he said.

“Whether these last 12 months have changed my life on the golf course, it hasn’t changed my life off the course. I’m still the same personality.

“Any time you shoot 64, it’s a good day. We handled the golf course very well and never tried to force anything.”

Im had come tearing out of the blocks with birdies in half of his first six holes to set the early pace, but a three-putt bogey on the first checked his momentum before he gained a stroke to return to 10 under.

Image caption, First-round leader Justin Thomas is six shots off the pace after a troublesome second round

Thomas, a shot clear after a bogey-free round one, endured a frustrating second day. Starting on 10, he repaired the damage of two bogeys with birdies on the 18th and third.

However, his revival went off the rails with a disastrous double-bogey on eight when he needed three off the tee after losing his wild initial attempt in trees to the right.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick is a stroke above the projected cut line of three under after his 69, but Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose are among those who will not be around for the weekend.

Scotland’s Grant Forrest ensured he will make the cut after a dramatic finish on the 18th, with his approach from more than 190 yards lipping out before he knocked in the birdie to sign for a 69 and sit four under.

Forrest, who is eyeing one of the three Open spots up for grabs for those not already exempt, said: “Eighteen is one of the toughest holes today, especially with the pin tucked to the right.

“I didn’t know where it came from, but I hit a brilliant five iron. What a relief to get in and it’s not going to be an anxious wait now.

“It’s been quite a rough stretch the last few months on the course and the Scottish Open means a lot to me.”

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