Three weeks ago, Matthew Baldwin was laughing at himself for mishitting a drive so badly that the ball went between his legs and advanced just one yard in front of the tee markers. On Friday, the No.

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.

“I’m right in the mix,” claimed McIlroy, the world number three, after posting a second round 68 – five birdies and one lone bogey – to reach the midpoint on nine-under-par 135, four shots behind the solo leader.