In Virginia Water, England, Matthew Baldwin, ranked 363 in the world, went from a mishit three weeks ago to being the clubhouse leader by three strokes at the prestigious European Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship. He shot a 6-under 66 in the second round, setting a strong pace at 13 under, which tied the tournament’s 36-hole record. Despite the competition from top European players like Rory McIlroy, Baldwin maintained his lead.

Baldwin, a journeyman from England, has faced challenges in his career, having gone through the qualifying school six times. Just two years ago, he was ranked inside the top 850 while playing on the Challenge Tour. His career took a positive turn last year when he secured his only professional win at the SDC Championship in South Africa.

After a rough patch earlier this year with four missed cuts in a row, Baldwin bounced back with solid performances, finishing tied for 12th at the Czech Masters and tied for 18th at the British Masters. Reflecting on his career struggles, Baldwin emphasized the importance of perspective and enjoying the journey.

Building on his first-round lead, Baldwin adopted a strategic approach in the second round, making seven birdies with only one bogey. He credited his good putting for maintaining momentum throughout the tournament. French player Antoine Rozner, ranked 199, trailed Baldwin by three strokes after a strong finish with five consecutive birdies in the second round.

Amid a delay of nearly 80 minutes due to adverse weather conditions, Billy Horschel, the 2021 champion, lagged five shots behind Baldwin after shooting 69. Tommy Fleetwood followed closely with a 68. Rory McIlroy, ranked third in the world, began his second round after a solid first-round score of 67.

The competition at the BMW PGA Championship remains fierce, with Baldwin surprising many with his impressive performance and maintaining the lead going into the weekend.