Birdie blitz puts Fisher in command

England’s Ross Fisher has his sights set on a first European Tour title in almost four years after claiming a one-shot lead at the midway point of the Tshwane Open in South Africa.

Fisher stormed home in just 30 strokes to card a second round of 65 on the 7,964-yard, Ernie Els-designed Copperleaf course, the longest in European Tour history.

That gave the 33-year-old former Ryder Cup player a halfway total of 13 under, one ahead of Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen, the South African Open winner also returning a flawless 65.

Fisher was only one under par at the turn after a birdie on the first was followed by eight pars, but picked up further birdies on the 10th, 13th, 16th and 17th, along with an eagle from 40 feet on the 15th.

“It was pretty special. Any time you can do that is very pleasing,” said Fisher, whose last win came at the Irish Open in 2010, although he did lose a play-off for the Perth International last October.

Fisher reached a career-high 17th in the world in 2009 after finishing fifth in the US Open and winning the World Match Play Championship, but is now ranked 82nd after failing to keep his PGA Tour card in 2013.

“I set high expectations having got to 17 in the world,” he added. “I’ve gotten there before and I know I can get back, it’s just a case of working hard.”

England’s Simon Dyson and Spain’s Carlos del Moral lie two shots off the lead after rounds of 68 and 65 respectively, with Ireland’s Michael Hoey joining South African trio Darren Fichardt, Jake Roos and Trevor Fisher on 10 under after a spectacular 65.

US-based Waterford man Kevin Phelan is still going strong and easily made the cut, adding a steady 69 to his first round 68.

Hoey, who carded seven birdies in a row from the 10th, said: “I made five in a row at the Dunhill Links (which he won in 2011) which was my record, and then I equalled that yesterday.

“When I made four today, I told myself to just try for my record. I made that, then I tried to break my record. Once I reached seven, I tried not to think of how far I could go.

“I had a good putt for birdie on 17, but the greens had become a little bumpy late in the day and my ball bounced, and still only just lipped out. And I was careless on 18 and didn’t repair a pitch mark, which meant I lipped out again on my birdie putt.”