Pulheim, Germany … Top-ranked Swede Henrik Stenson declared ‘greed is a terrible thing’ after posting a sizzling seven under par 65 to muscle his way to a clubhouse share of the lead on day two of the BMW International Open at the Gut Larcenhof course in Pulheim, Germany.

Stenson didn’t drop a shot in his lowest score since a similar 65 to commence his efforts in eventually finishing third in last January’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the UAE.

The affable Swede finds himself tied with an equally affable Raphael Jacquelin of France who added a 68 and share top billing at 11-under par.

Henrik Stenson reckons ‘greed is a terrible thing’.

Stenson is coming off having to withdraw after an opening 69 in last week’s U.S. Open at Oakmont while is striving also for a first success since capturing back-to-back victories in the 2014 DP World Tour Championship.

“It was definitely a very solid round and where I wasn’t in too much trouble,” he said.

“I hit most of the fairways, and most of the greens so I could have been closer on a couple of them, but greed is a terrible thing (smiling).”

However Stenson, as winner of the 2012 BMW International Open, knows will need to get greedy as he’s elected not to contest next week’s 100th French Open in Versailles, and an event that will count as two on the European Race to Dubai schedule while also attracting double European Ryder Cup points.

“I came here to put myself into contention and so far, so good,” he said.

“There’s been a few tournaments in this late spring, early summer, where I feel like maybe I’ve been showing up feeling like I’m working on my game and not been 100% there to compete.

“Now we don’t have too many tournaments before The Open Championship, the PGA and the Olympics, so it’s time to put that tournament focus back on and then got out and do a good job.

“I’ve done that for the two days and I’m going to try and push myself to do it for another two.£”