Danny Willett slips six shots off the lead after quadruple-bogey at European Masters

Danny Willett's hopes of successfully defending his Omega European Masters title took a hit as he slipped down the leaderboard on the second day at Crans-sur-Sierre.

Willett flirted with missing the cut after he followed bogeys at 10 and 11 with a dreadful quadruple-bogey eight at the 12th, although he recovered with birdies at 14 and 18 to salvage a 72 and make it safely through to the weekend on three under.

But Andy Sullivan suffered an early exit for the third week running, while fellow Ryder Cup rookie Matt Fitzpatrick finished with four birdies over the last five holes to make the halfway cut with nothing to spare.

English veteran Richard Bland fired a superb 64 to earn a share of the halfway lead on nine under with French rookie Romain Langasque and Aussie journeyman Richard Green, who led outright until a late bogey at the penultimate hole.

Langasque, playing in only his fifth European Tour event since turning professional after The Masters in April, carded a flawless 63 which featured an eagle and five birdies, three of them over his last five holes.

The 21-year-old, who won the Amateur Championship at Carnousite last year, is well on course to earn a full card for next season as he currently tops the Challenge Tour's Race to Oman rankings, is enjoying playing with freedom with the knowledge that his card is virtually secure for 2017.

"This is really cool, but that's what I want to do every week, so I will do my best now and we will see," Langasque told Sky Sports 4. "I'm quite sure I will be on the European Tour next year, so I play without pressure.

Live European Tour Golf

"If I play good that's cool and if I play bad then it is no problem. I have nothing to lose. I have no pressure and maybe that's why I can play good."

Bland, still searching for his maiden victory after 392 starts, began his second round with a bogey at the 10th before starting an impressive charge up the leaderboard with birdies at the 17th and 18th.

The 43-year-old picked up further shots at the second and fifth, and he closed with three consecutive birdies to join Langasque in the clubhouse lead before Green made it a three-way tie at the top with a solid 66.

Scottish Open champion Alex Noren returned a bogey-free 63 to storm to eight under alongside Scott Hend (67) and Richard T Lee, who bogeyed three of the first five holes before bouncing back with five consecutive birdies around the turn and adding an eagle at 14 and another birdie at 15 in his entertaining 65.

Andrew "Beef" Johnston completed 36 holes with just a single blemish on his card as he added a 68 to his opening 65 to close on seven under, with evergreen Spaniard Miguel Angel JImenez (68) just two further back.

Willett looked certain to be in contention for the halfway lead when he recovered from a slow start to make three birdies in four holes, but he followed mistakes at the 10th and 11th with a horror show at 12, twice finding the water short of the green as he ran up an ugly eight.

The Masters champion steadied the ship with birdies at 14 and 18 to join Ryder Cup team-mate Chris Wood on three under, while Fitzpatrick's stunning finish capped a 65 - 10 shots fewer than his first round - and extended his tournament.

But Sullivan narrowly failed to emulate his compatriot as he was left to rue a double-bogey at the 12th, although he made a good fight of it as he birdied 14, 15 and 17 before his chip for another at the last lipped out.