Marcel Siem's Lead Slips at Betfred British Masters

Marcel Siem began the day at the Betfred British Masters leading by four strokes, but a brilliant finish from Matt Fitzpatrick, including a 22-foot birdie on the 18th hole, has brought the talented Englishman back into contention. As the tournament heads into the weekend, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion.

Key Takeaways:

• Marcel Siem started the day in a four-way tie at the top but took the lead with a lightning-quick start that featured an eagle and three birdies in his first eight holes.
• Siem eventually signed for a second-round 69 to move to nine under par, one stroke clear of Matt Fitzpatrick, who made a total of five birdies and two bogeys in an impressive round of 69.
• Siem feels he could have gone lower, citing mistakes on the 18th, second, and sixth holes, where he dropped shots due to poor lies and misread putts.
• Matt Fitzpatrick's impressive finish included a 22-foot birdie on the 18th hole, which delighted the home crowd and has kept him firmly in the hunt for the tournament.
• Fellow Englishman Matt Wallace and Kazuma Kobori are tied for third on seven under alongside Brandon Stone, while Scottish amateur Cameron Adam made a comfortable cut after firing an eagle and a birdie in his second-round 70.

Statistics:

• Marcel Siem's second-round score: 69
• Matt Fitzpatrick's second-round score: 69
• Siem's leader status: one stroke clear of Fitzpatrick heading into the weekend
• Number of birdies made by Fitzpatrick: 5
• Number of bogeys made by Fitzpatrick: 2
• Distance of Fitzpatrick's 22-foot birdie on the 18th hole: 22 feet (6.7 meters)

Sources:

• [Marcel Siem's quotes]
• [Matt Fitzpatrick's quotes]
• [Tournament coverage]