• Nordea Masters, Round Two

Noren out in front as Watson chases

Robert Karlsson works out his yardage © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Superior Noren secures seven-shot success despite 77
  
• News: Johnson still suffering in Stockholm
  
• Profile: Robert Karlsson | Alexander Noren

Leaderboard

Home favourite Alexander Noren broke clear of the field after a fine second round to take control of the Scandinavian Masters on Friday.

The Swede, who is inside the top 20 on the European Tour Order of Merit after victory at the Wales Open earlier in the year, could well be on course for a second triumph of the season - after a fine round of 66 put him three shots clear of his nearest rival at 11-under.

Noren enjoyed an error-free round that included six birdies and no bogeys at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm, an effort that enabled him to put some distance between himself and early challenger Bubba Watson.

The American struggled somewhat on Thursday but bounced back in his second round, cancelling out three bogeys with an impressive six birdies and an eagle to submit a 67 that sees him well placed for a good finish at six-under. He is joined by South African Jaco van Zyl, who birdied the last for a share of third place.

Watson certainly enjoyed the upper hand in the battle of the two high profile Americans in the field, with Open Championship runner-up Dustin Johnson somehow contriving to sit at level par after a round of 71 that contained two eagles and a triple bogey - at the island par-three 17th.

The only man separating Watson and Van Zyl from leader Noren is Shiv Kapur, who completed a late round of 66 to take sole possession of second place. Kapur hit eight birdies to move to eight-under, three strokes behind Noren.

Behind the top three, it is a domestic player offering the greatest challenge - with Robert Karlsson well-placed at five-under after a round of 70, alongside Australian Scott Hend. The Swede's compatriots Niklas Lemke (72) and Fredrik Henge (69) were both one shot back at four-under.

England's Anthony Wall is also in the mix, alongside Karlsson and Hend on five-under. Wall reacted to an early bogey with three birdies to stay in the hunt.

Elsewhere, Seung-yul Noh, Fredrik Andersson Hed and Pablo Martin are all comfortably placed at three-under, alongside Englishman Richard Finch. The halfway cut sees a number of notable names depart, however - with Jesper Parnevik, Nicolas Fasth and Thorbjorn Olesen all disappointing local fans.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.