Halfway leader Shane Lowry: Last-minute call to enter BMW PGA Championship down to lockdown news 

“I texted my caddie Bo, ‘Do you fancy going this week?’ and I think he was down at the pub having a pint so wasn’t too happy.”

Shane Lowry holds a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the BMW PGA Championship (Brian Lawless/PA)

It’s a long way from Las Vegas to Wentworth, but Sin City was very much on the minds of joint leaders Shane Lowry and Matt Fitzpatrick at the halfway stage of the BMW PGA Championship.

Open champion Lowry will contest next week’s CJ Cup in Vegas after belatedly being granted an invite, while Fitzpatrick noted with dismay the opening 62 from US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau in the current PGA Tour event in the same city.