• BMW International Open, Round Two

Els continues form in Munich

Ernie Els' last victory was the Open Championship in July 2012 © PA Photos

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• News: Easy does it as Els wraps up wire-to-wire victory
  

BMW International Open leaderboard

A birdie four on the 18th kept Ernie Els on course for a wire-to-wire victory at the BMW International Open as the South African carded a second round 69 to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at 12-under par.

Englishman Matt Baldwin, looking for his maiden European Tour title, had briefly led at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, but the 27-year-old reached the halfway stage in a tie for second with Frenchman Alexander Levy on 11-under.

In the morning starters, defending champion Danny Willett carded a superb seven-under 65 to set the clubhouse lead at 10-under, but the Yorkshireman will begin Saturday tied fourth on 10-under with Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

Willett, whose season has been hampered by back problems, said after his round: "I haven't played a lot of tournament golf in the last 14 weeks, so it was a bit rusty, and today I hit some proper golf shots again and I played really nicely.

"It's good to put yourself in a position. First time coming back to a tournament defending champion is always nice. Obviously it's a different golf course but still the same atmosphere and it's BMW's 25th anniversary, so it's a nice event this year."

Home favourite Martin Kaymer failed to repeat his superb first-round 64 as he stumbled to a clumsy 71 which featured two bogies. The German was joined on nine-under by compatriot Marcel Siem, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, Swede Alex Noren and England's Tommy Fleetwood.

Another Englishman, Matthew Nixon, is part of a six-strong group at eight-under par, while American Ryder Cup star Dustin Johson and Londoner Ross Fisher are a shot further back.

Late birdies saw Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey scrape inside the cutline, which fell at two-under par. Colin Montgomerie and Thorbjorn Olesen are among those heading home early, as is Tom Lewis, who followed his opening day 65 with a six-over 78.

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