BMW PGA Championship: Lowry, Fitzpatrick lead as Harding misses cut

Open champion Shane Lowry sits alongside Matt Fitzpatrick at the top of the BMW PGA Championship leaderboard after both shot 65s on Friday, while overnight co-leader Justin Harding endured a nightmare round.

Lowry and Fitzpatrick once again carded identical scores to move to 12 under at Wentworth, one shot ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, who was part of Thursday's leading trio alongside Harding and Adri Arnaus.

But while Arnaus managed to keep his hopes alive by staying within four strokes of the top, Harding remarkably missed the cut after a torrid 81 – 15 strokes worse than his opening 18 holes.

David Howell provided a far more heartwarming subplot as his ace on the par-three 14th secured a £71,675 donation for the Alzheimer's Society from title sponsors BMW.

HOLE IN ONE @davidhowell530 makes an ace on the par-three 14th. @bmwgolfsport and @BMWUK will be donating the value of the 530e Touring (£71,675) to @alzheimerssoc. #BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/LVLlcQOSkw
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 9, 2020

World number nine Patrick Reed's 68 put him on the periphery at four under, with Tommy Fleetwood one shot further back.

Reigning champion Danny Willett signed for a one-under-par 71 for the second day in a row.