Peter Hanson produced an excellent outward 32 to take over at the top of the BMW Masters midway through the second round.

Four behind runaway first round leader Jamie Donaldson overnight, Swede Hanson fell five behind with a bogey at the first.

However, after birdieing the long third some superb iron play saw him pick up shots at four consecutive holes from the fifth.

After an approach to three feet at the fifth, he pitched to two feet at the seventh and ten feet at the eighth, and by reaching ten under par for the week led by one.

Donaldson, winner of his first European Tour title in Ireland earlier this year, had two bogeys and a birdie over the front nine to sit one shot back along with World Number One Rory McIlroy and clubhouse leader Robert Karlsson.

Former European Number One Karlsson had eight birdies in his 64, including six in a row form the sixth, as he made a welcome return to form.

Having had only one top-ten finish all season, the former Ryder Cup star is looking to climb from 75th on The Race to Dubai into the top 60 in time for next month’s DP World Tour Championship – where he had the last, and biggest, of his career wins two years ago. 

Like Hanson, McIlroy turned in 32 as the US PGA Champion increased his prospects of winning The Race to Dubai, while Ireland’s Shane Lowry sat fifth after matching Karlsson’s 64.

That bogey-free effort saw Lowry pick up where he left off after winning the Portugal Masters on his last outing.

“I played lovely,” said the 25 year old. “I'm in a good position going into the weekend now.

“Obviously confidence is high after winning Portugal. I did do a bit too much celebrating, but I came in here with a lot of confidence.”

Hanson doubled his lead with a six foot birdie at the 11th, leaving The Ryder Cup star well placed for a second win in two months following his KLM Open victory, and holed from half the distance at the short 12th for another gain after a magnificent tee shot.