Day two digest: Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers

Everything you need to know from Friday at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Fox sniffed out a clubhouse lead, the weather produced a big surprise and two former World Number Ones kept the putter in the bag on day two of the 2021 Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday on the Arabian Peninsula.

No fear from Fox

Ryan Fox's second consecutive 65 set the target at ten under but he had quite the pack gathered behind him. The current World Number One, a two time Rolex Series winner and a four time winner with a Ryder Cup appearance were two back. At seven under was a former World Number One with an Olympic Gold Medal and a Major Championship, and yet another two time Rolex Series champion. But Fox, with a victory himself at the 2019 ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth, was not in the mood to be intimidated. "I can just control what I can control," he said. "If I go out and play well, try to see the target and make them chase me. I don't know how many of the top 50 in the world are here this week but it's a lot. And there's a reason they're there, they're world class players, and I certainly hope to be there one day. If I can play well this week, then it's a step forward in that direction. If not, it's just good experience and a nice finish to my Desert Swing because I don't really know when I'm going to come back out here again."

Rain............in the desert

Yep, you read that right. Saudi Arabia does not see a lot of rain but we had plenty on Friday morning, making for some tough scoring that meant that overnight leader David Horsey was not caught by any of the morning wave. It wasn't quite autumn in northern Europe but it certainly took a few of us by surprise, with just over two hours later lost to a dangerous weather warning.

Viktor has big ambitions

The man who got closest to the top from the early wave was Viktor Hovland, who braved the wind and the rain to card a hugely impressive bogey free 66. That left him in a smart position at six under after 36 holes and he said of a potential victory: "I feel like that's one thing that's missing - to get a European Tour win on my résumé." He was playing alongside Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Danny Willett and he is not just eyeing a win but a place on Padraig Harrington's team in September. "I can just picture him (Poulter) and Danny Willett in that environment and I'd love to be in the same setting some day," he added. For his part, Poulter said that Hovland "100 per cent, will be on the team", adding: "He's going to be the backbone of the European team for many years." Aim for the stars, Viktor.

You don't lose it

He may be 51 years of age but when you've won four Major Championships and 28 events on the European Tour en route to two Orders of Merit, age is just a number. Take a bow Ernie Els.

Many try but few succeed

Taking the three wood out of the bag around the greens isn't that groundbreaking anymore but, come on, how often do you see it actually work, even for the pros? Ladies and gentlemen, Justin Rose.

Not that bad, lads

Some players were assuming the worst on Friday. There was Tyrrell Hatton.

And Bryson DeChambeau.

Nothing wrong with those, boys.