KLM Open: Day two digest

Sebastian edged ahead, Yuto was inspired, Pablo faced an anxious wait and Marcel made an ace on day two of the KLM Open.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday at The International.

Söderberg gets his nose in front

Sebastian Söderberg will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the weather-delayed KLM Open after a marathon second day. The Swede was in the half of the draw who managed to get their first round completed on day one and started round two two shots off the lead. He had edged one ahead when play ended just before 9.00pm but will have four holes to complete on Saturday morning, with conditions usually tougher earlier in the day in Amsterdam. Söderberg was at eight under, one shot clear of Kiwi Daniel Hillier and Japan’s Yuto Katsuragawa, who were in the clubhouse, and English pair Joe Dean and Callum Tarren, who had two and five holes remaining respectively. Some players will have as many as eight holes left when play resumes at 7.15am, with the third round then set to be a two-tee start, beginning at 10.00am at the earliest.

Katsuragawa inspired by Kaneko

On Sunday, Kota Kaneko claimed his first DP World Tour title, following in the footsteps of good friend Katsuragawa, who was the last Japanese player to win before Kaneko in 2024. Well this week, Katsuragawa is looking to follow Kaneko, with the clubhouse leader taking some putting tips from his countryman. “Last week, my good friend Kota Kaneko won and his putting style is a small stance and armlock, so I have been trying a small stance, no armlock, but I have been trying this as well," he said. “I was very happy for Kota last week and maybe it will be my time this week."

Max's marathon day

Maximilian Steinlechner had played just two holes when play was suspended on Thursday. On Friday he would play 34 in six under to sit just two shots off the lead. “It was basically two rounds in a row, I played 34 holes today so it was really solid," he said. "I think I made two bogeys for the whole day which is always really good and then bogey free in the second round. The wind picked up a little bit, but I just tried to keep it together. I had a few birdie chances but just didn’t make them and the last two holes were some interesting up and downs. I’m used to playing 36 hole days in college so it is something not entirely new to me, it is always draining mentally but you just have to manage it well and then keep on playing, trying not to make stupid mistakes."

Nervy wait for Pablo

After 11 holes of his second round, Pablo Larrazábal was three under and looking at the top of the leaderboard. A trip to the water, a four-putt and a poor approach later he was the wrong side of the cutline overnight. “It’s not easy to not think about the cut," he said. "The last cut I made was in Qatar first week of February, I’m coming in with eight missed cuts in a row and suddenly it doesn’t matter how many golf tournaments you’ve played in your career – I think it’s over 480 – I started shaking. This is how tough this game is and how ugly it gets sometimes.”

Read all about his remarkably frank and honest post-round interview here.

Siem makes an ace

Marcel Siem faced 27 holes on day two and his fourth of the day was absolutely perfect. He struck a nine iron from 150 yards on the fourth and saw it take one hop and drop into the hole for the 12th hole-in-one of the season.

And a few others went close.......

It wasn't just the fourth that was presented the chance for an ace. Amateur Scott Woltering went close at the seventh and Nicolai von Dellingshausen was inches away at the 11th.

Holing out from everywhere

Pablo's Spansh hands, Julien's ridiculous par save and Dan's astonishing fried egg. These boys can hole out from anywhere.