ENGLISHMAN LEE WESTWOOD holds a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm.
The world number three fired eight birdies in a blemish-free 64 that left him on 12 under overall after the second round on Thursday.
Peter Hanson, Lloyd Saltman and Carlos Del Moral are in a tie for second at nine under.
But the day belonged to Westwood, who delighted the crowd at the Bro Hof Slott Golf Club with a series of sublime strokes.
He began with three successive pars that were followed by a pair of birdies.
Westwood also made up a shot on the ninth but it was the back nine where he really got going.
The 39-year-old hit two birdies in a row on holes 12 and 13 before capping off his day with a hat-trick of birdies to leave his rivals well behind.
Swede Hanson fired seven birdies in his four-under 68, but a double-bogey on the par-three 11th cost him a chance of being within one stroke of the leader.
Like the leader, Saltman also hit a 64, including a brilliant albatross at the par-five 12th.
After four birdies on the front nine, Saltman needed just two shots on the 501m hole and he immediately followed it with a birdie to continue his momentum.
A bogey was to follow on the 14th but the Scot finished on a good note with a late birdie, while Spaniard Del Moral hit six birdies in his 67.
A further five golfers sit tied for fifth at eight under, with Swede Michael Jonzon, South African Richard Sterne, Dutchman Maarten Lafeber, Spaniard Ignacio Garrido and Argentine Emiliano Grillo all four shots off the pace.
Overnight leader Magnus A Carlsson could only shoot an even-par 72 as he slipped to a tie for 10th alongside English pair Chris Wood and Richard Bland.
Reigning champion Alexander Noren responded from a two-over 74 on the opening day with a blemish-free 66 that saw him rise into a tie for 30th.
Of the Irish players competing, Michael Hoey was in the best position on six under, with Gareth Maybin on three under.
