Wallace delighted with his Hillside start

Matt Wallace is now the 11/4 favourite to land the Betfred British Masters after pulling one shot clear at the halfway stage.

England’s Matt Wallace (11/4 fav Betfred British Masters Outright) says he is ‘very happy’ with his game after he claimed the halfway lead at the Betfred British Masters.

Wallace battled through some tough conditions on Friday to score a round of 67 which allowed him to move onto 12-under par.

He is now one shot clear of the chasing pack and the Hillingdon-born ace seems to be benefitting from a new approach after changing his backroom team.

Wallace is determined to climb the world rankings in 2019 and add to his four titles on the European Tour.

When asked about his round, he told Betfred: “Very solid, a solid last couple of days. I think that is the first time I have gone 36 holes bogey free so I am very happy.

“I am leading aren’t I so I am very much in the mix, but Matt Jordan is playing very well. We will be around and, in the mix, and I am very happy with the last two days.

“My new gameplan has not got me thinking about winning, it is about executing the shots. If the conditions stay like this it will be amazing and the crowds have been great, lets hope the weekend can produce some more.”

Countryman Ross Fisher, Belgian Thomas Detry, Swede Niklas Lemke (25/1 Outright) and Scot Richie Ramsay are his nearest challengers, with Lemke grabbing the headlines after scoring eight birdies in a row as he signed for a round of 64.

Fisher (13/2 Outright) was forced off the course due to thunderstorms, but he was delighted with his round in the end.

He said: “Very pleased I had a little break with the thunder storms and it was nice to not be in there for too long.

“I am right up there but there is a lot of golf still to be played. I think the golf course will play a little bit faster and firmer and I am looking forward to a good weekend.”

Odds subject to change.