American Harold Varner III and Spain’s Adri Arnaus battled the bruising blustery second round conditions best to show the way at 12-under-par into the weekend rounds of the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers here in Saudi Arabia

Varner 111 benefitted from the slightly less testing weather, and teeing-off at 8.20 am local time, to add a superb six-under 66 to his opening 64 before being joined on 10-under by Spaniard Adri Arnaus with similar rounds, and with Arnaus teed-off just prior to noon when the conditions were at their toughest.

The 31-year-old Varner III, 31, is a newcomer to this week’s Asian Tour flagship event and enjoying testing his game on the King Abdullah Economic City layout.

Harold Varner 111 all smiles on route to a share of the lead on day two of the Saudi International (Image @AsianTour)

“The course is unbelievable. It’s really good. It wasn’t blowing as hard this morning, so I’m just trying to hang in there and just give myself a chance,” said Varner.

“I think you’ve got to drive it really well here. It’s forgiving off the tee, but when blowing, the lines get a little bit tighter, and you’ve just got to keep hitting good shots.”

Arnaus, and now a Saudi Golf ambassador,  turned down contesting this week’s inaugural DP World Ras Al Khaimah Championship in the UAE, and where the now 27-year-old Barcelona-born won on the host Al Hamra course in the 2018 Challenge Tour final event that year, a win that secured his DP World Tour card.

Aussie Cam ‘Mr. 34-Under’ Smith, and with a pair of 66s, along with American Matthew Wolff, and scores of 65 and 67, share third place at seven-under.

Overnight leader Matteo Manassero, and out in the much later second-round groups, held it together in shooting a 73 to be still well-placed at five-under-par and to be tied in ninth place while defending champ Dustin Johnson, and with a second day 74, is lurking in a group at four-under, and also including fellow Masters winner, Phil Mickelson, and shooting 71.

The pair both recorded rounds of 66 sees to take a two-shot lead over Cameron Smith and Matt Wolff – as well as some of the game’s biggest stars at the Asian Tour’s season opening event in Saudi Arabia.

Tommy Fleetwood (-7), Bubba Watson (-6), Xander Schauffele (-5), Patrick Reed (-4) and Phil Mickelson (-4) are all lurking on the leaderboard and in touch ahead of tomorrow’s “moving day”. Frist round leader Matteo Manassero remains in contention on five under par.e cut for the weekend following his opening day 66 with a round of 75 to leave him on 1 over par.

And in one of the brightest stories on day two, ultra-talented 14-year-old Thai sensation Ratchanon Chantananuwat made the cut for the weekend following his opening day 66 with a round of 75 to leave him on 1 over par.

In fact, 10 players have Chantananuwat to thank as his 17th hole birdie saw the cut move from 65 players at three-over looking to make the cut but then with the cut officially at 4-over and 75 players now playing all four days.

At the start of the day American Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the event with a left hand and left hip injury.