Major champions Graeme McDowell and Danny Willett are among a cluster of players in a share for second at the hallway stage of the Italian Open, the BBC report.
The pair, along with Spaniard Rafael Cabrera Bello, Belgian Thomas Pieters and home favourite Francesco Molinari are all on ten under, with outright leader Martin Kaymer one shot clear on 11 under.
Northern Irishman McDowell, who was victorious in the 2010 US Open champion, carded a second successive five under 66, which included no bogeys.
The opening two rounds are McDowell’s best start to a tournament in three years, after being named as Ryder Cup vice-captain last month.
Willett, who has not won an event since claiming the Green Jacket at the 2016 Masters, is yet to drop a shot in the tournament and backed up his opening round 65, with a four under 67.
The pair will be hoping to catch Kaymer on Saturday, after the German’s late birdie blitz gave him the outright lead.
