By Matt Smith
Danish star Rasmus Hojgaard continued to rip up Le National on Day 2 the French Open to open up a six-shot lead after hitting a recond 36-hole 15-under. The Dane six-under 65 on Friday to his stunning opening 62.

The 21-year-old is aiming to become the first Danish winner in the 116-year history of Continental Europe’s oldest national open, and he took another large step towards a fourth DP World Tour title with a domineering performance at the challenging 2018 Ryder Cup venue.

Playing alongside his compatriot and 2023 Ryder Cup vice-captain Thomas Bjorn, Hojgaard’s round caught fire at the 15th with the first of three successive birdies, before picking up four shots on the back nine with just a single bogey on the fifth.

His 36-hole halfway total of 127 strokes is the tournament’s lowest since becoming a Tour event in 1972 and moved him six clear of Frenchman Paul Barjon, whose three-under 68 delighted the crowds late in the day as he moved into outright second spot on his debut at his national open.

South Africa’s George Coetzee was a shot further back on eight-under after a five-under 66, while Rasmus Højgaard’s playing partner Antoine Rozner boosted his own hopes of a home victory with a 66 which moved him alongside Alexander Björk on seven-under.

“The course still plays tricky, I just played very well again today, I hit a lot of greens, gave myself a lot of chances and kept the bogeys away more or less, so it’s all good,” said Hojgaard. “Over the last few tournaments I’ve been making a lot of birdies, just had too many bogeys or worse. I knew there was a lot of good stuff in there, I just needed to make it happen over four rounds so and far I’ve done that.

“You’ve got a few options out there, there are a few tricky tee shots where you have to stand up and hit a proper shot, and I enjoy that test.

“I’m not going to change much the next couple of days, it’s been working fine so far so I need to go out there and be patient, limit the mistakes and make a few birdies. It’s my fifth week in a row so I’m going to relax now for the afternoon.”

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