Sunday 10 June 2018 18:15, UK
Steve Webster will go into the weekend of the Shot Clock Masters just one stroke off the lead as Miguel Angel Jimenez stayed in the hunt despite a poor finish to his second round.
Mikko Korhonen leads the way on nine under after he added a 67 to his opening 68 and became the only player in the 120-man field to complete 36 holes without a single bogey on his card at the Diamond Country Club near Vienna.
Webster was a guest on The Debate show on Monday, with the scourge of slow play one of the main talking points, and his visit to the Sky Sports studios clearly had a positive impact on his game as the English veteran carded six birdies and just one bogey to join Justin Walters in a share of second place.
The 43-year-old, who posted only one top-10 on the European Tour last season, admitted on The Debate that the revolutionary shot-clock format in operation would suit him as one of the quicker players on Tour, and he was true to his word as he looks to get his career "back-on-track".
Webster has not tasted victory since picking up his second title at the Portugal Masters almost 11 years ago and does not currently have a European Tour card, but he believes the quick pace of play in Austria can help him revive his fortunes.
"I love it," Webster said of the format, which stipulates that the players have 50 seconds to play their shot if they have the honour in their group, while the limit reduces to 40 seconds for the second and third players to hit.
"I've always been a quick player and I couldn't wait to get to the tournament. I was about 25th reserve a few weeks ago, so I was crossing my fingers to get in. I love quick golf and this is how it should be. Everyone is so positive about how it's gone so far."
The entire field again escaped a one-shot penalty for going over time for the second day running, but Jimenez may have been wishing for a few extra seconds to regain his composure after his faltering finish.
The 54-year-old roared into the lead when he made five birdies in six holes before responding to a bogey at the fourth - his 13th, with back-to-back gains which lifted him to 10 under par.
But the charismatic Spaniard bogeyed the seventh and took some gloss off another entertaining round with a double-bogey six at the ninth as he signed for a disappointing 70.
Former Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts is one further back after rounds of 70 and 69, but his Medinah team-mate Peter Hanson slipped back to four-under after three bogeys in four holes down the stretch of his 73.
