Scotland's Grant Forrest showcased his impressive form at the Open de Espana, taking a one-stroke lead into the weekend with a total of nine-under-par. After finishing the first round at five-under alongside compatriot Conner Syme and Spain's Eugenio Chacarra, Forrest carded a solid second-round 67 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

• Current Standings:
  • Grant Forrest: 9-under
  • Conner Syme: 8-under, second round 68
  • Joel Girrbach: 8-under, second round 66 (including five consecutive birdies)
  • Eugenio Chacarra: 8-under, despite a fractured toe

Forrest expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "It was a really good score in the end. I didn't have my best stuff on our first five or six holes, but made a couple of really nice par saves to keep the momentum going."

He reflected on his play, noting, "Started driving it well the last 12 holes and delighted with four under. I probably didn't play quite as well as yesterday." His consistent performance is notable, as he has never missed the cut in his six previous appearances at this tournament and has finished tied third in both 2021 and 2024.

The leaderboard remains competitive, with Chacarra and Joe Dean both at eight-under, while Danish players Jacob Skov Olesen and Jeff Winther, along with French golfers Martin Couvra and Victor Perez, and New Zealand's Daniel Hillier, sit just one stroke behind.

In a surprising twist, Patrick Reed, who has led the Race to Dubai Rankings since February, missed the cut. A victory for Chacarra would allow him to leapfrog both Rory McIlroy and Reed in the standings.