LEE’S PRIMED TO END LONG WAIT

LEE WESTWOOD has given himself a chance of winning the BMW PGA – at the 24th time of asking.

He went round a roasting Wentworth in 69 shots yesterday to move into the slipstream of joint leaders Francesco Molinari, Thomas Pieters and Scott Jamieson at halfway.

Westwood (right), 44, who is two shots back at five under, said: “I’ve played well here in the past.

“I’ve won the World Matchplay here and had a couple of good chances to win this event and not finished it off, so we’ll see what happens.

“I’ve played patient and sensible golf – really big tournament golf – and aimed away from flags when I should do and not hit driver off every tee.

“But when I have I’ve certainly driven it better this week than I have done for a long, long time.”

Danny Willett, who made his first cut since February, has got caught up in a row with Branden Grace after criticising the South African on Twitter.

Willett was left fuming about a free drop Grace engineered for himself from a plugged lie on the upslope of a bunker during the first round. Grace called in a referee after complaining that his feet were touching the rubber base of the bunker.

Willett tweeted: “European Tour, please explain that drop. Burying feet enough in to get to the base of the bunker?”

Grace said: “There is always somebody that writes something negative – it happens.

“It caught me a little off my guard this morning but I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

Justin Rose eagled the last to make the cut, while Ian Poulter will also be around for the weekend after a round of 69.