Fitzpatrick leads in Rome as significant champs Rose, McDowell prowl

Fitzpatrick checked a second cycle 65 at the Olgiata Golf Club 

Britain's reality number 31 Matthew Fitzpatrick opened up a one-shot lead at the midway phase of the Italian Open on Friday yet significant champs Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell were floating at his shoulder. 

Fitzpatrick checked a second cycle 65 at the Olgiata Golf Club to be 10 under for the competition, one shot in front of Denmark's Joachim B. Hansen. 

Five players were a further shot back on seven under with previous US Open bosses Rose and McDowell joined by India's Shubhankar Sharma, Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia and Englishman Andrew Johnston. 

The 25-year-old Fitzpatrick has not lifted a trophy since a year ago's European Masters. 

"Only a super strong day," said Fitzpatrick. "I made sense of something with my irons after the subsequent opening. I just felt significantly more OK with my irons once I was out there. That surely appeared. I just missed one green after that. 

"At the point when you're in these sort of positions, it's continually energizing. That is the reason you play the game, and anticipate the end of the week." 

Safeguarding British Open boss Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari, the 2018 champ of the Claret Jug, both missed the cut as did Ian Poulter, who decided not to protect his Houston Open title so as to play in Rome.