Matthew Baldwin is setting an unexpectedly hot pace at the BMW PGA Championship after shooting 6-under 66 to establish a two-stroke lead after the second round.

Matthew Baldwin is setting an unexpectedly hot pace at the BMW PGA Championship after shooting 6-under 66 to establish a three-stroke clubhouse lead midway through the second round

Matthew Baldwin, the No. 363-ranked journeyman from England, is the second-round leader by two strokes at the BMW PGA Championship and preparing himself for the biggest weekend of his career.

Now, on 13 under overall to tie the event’s 36-hole record, he is leading one of the European tour’s top fields that includes No. 3-ranked Rory McIlroy, who was among the afternoon starters following a first-round 67.