Lack of action no obstacle for free-wheeling Waring

England’s Paul Waring discovered that neither a lack of thinking nor competitive golf was a barrier to contending for a second European Tour title at the ISPS Handa UK Championship.

Waring has not played since the last week of February due to a combination of the coronavirus shutdown and a back injury which prevented him making his debut in the US PGA Championship earlier this month.

However, the 35-year-old from Birkenhead showed few signs of rust as he added a second round of 67 – the joint lowest score of the day – to his opening 70 at The Belfry to lie two shots off the lead held by South Africa’s Justin Walters.

“I’d definitely take that with these conditions,” Waring, who won the Nordea Masters in 2018, said. “We got through 13 holes and then on the par three 14th got a massive gust downwind. From there it was quite tough coming in, so I’m pleased to finish the round off.

Walters, who is seeking a first European Tour title, added a 71 to his opening 64 to finish nine under par, a shot ahead of France’s Benjamin Hebert, who is also yet to taste victory on Tour.

World No 30 Bernd Wiesberger double-bogeyed the 18th to lie three shots off the lead alongside New Zealand’s Ryan Fox and the English pair of Matthew Jordan and Marcus Armitage.

Marc Warren is two under after a second round 73. Richie Ramsay, Stephen Gallacher and Liam Johnston are all one over. David Law is 10 over after a second round 81.