Alex Noren is happy to be getting some reward for his consistency after a second consecutive 67 moved him right into contention heading into the weekend at the Volvo China Open.
The Swede missed all but two events of the 2014 season due to suffering with tendonitis in both wrists but since making his return in January 2015 he has missed just one cut - and that was at the notoriously difficult US Open Championship at Chambers Bay.
During the 2015 season he also won the Nordea Masters but recorded just three other top tens and is happy to be back in the upper echelons of the leaderboard after his tie for sixth at the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
"I'm hitting it nicely – I haven't even hit a draw yet but the fade is working," he said.
It's always good when you've won before and it's really nice to be up there. It was a while ago before Valderrama since I've been up there so it's a nice feeling - Alex Noren
Noren was unblemished on Friday as he played in the less windy morning conditions and was pleased with his position heading into the weekend.
"I played very steady, not fantastic off the tee or with my irons but I hit a lot of greens and putted well," he said. "I didn't make many mistakes – it's not the best I have played but I'm very happy with the round, I got it together nicely and I'm happy with the result.
"It's easier in the mornings, with no wind. Yesterday there was a lot of wind and I hit a lot better shots – there are some tough holes when there is wind but today the course felt a little easier all along."
Bernd Wiesberger was also at ten under after following his excellent opening 65 in the tougher conditions with a 69, and the Austrian felt he left a few shots out there on Friday.
"I did feel relaxed out there," he said. "I played great golf yesterday and played really well in tough conditions so I was looking forward to getting out there early in the morning and trying to do the same.
"I played decent, I didn't play quite as well as yesterday, especially off the tee, I was not hitting it as good and I was really struggling with the pace of my putting early on, I left a lot of putts short.
"I couldn't quite score as well as yesterday but all in all I feel well on the golf course. I feel like I hit some good shots and took advantage of some of them. A good first two days."
Dane Lucas Bjerregaard enjoyed a stunning end to the 2015 campaign with five top tens in nine events. He has yet to get into the top ten this season but after a 68-67 start to his week, he feels his game is coming together.
"I'm really pleased with how I'm playing out there," he said. "My putting is a little bit better, this week I've been putting nicely, my speed out there is really good so I've had a lot of good looks. All in all, I'm really pleased with my game.
"I've been working hard on some swing changes that are slowly coming along, a little bit too slowly if you ask me but they're coming along. All in all I like where it's heading and this is a good sign that it's heading in the right way."
