Omega European Masters R2 Leaderboard: Matt Wallace in Ryder Cup contention

Matt Wallace is playing for so much more than just a successful title defence at the Omega European Masters this weekend.

Wallace, 35, played 36 holes at Crans-sur-Sierre in 12-under par on Friday to move into contention in the last event before 2025 European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald reveals his six captain's picks on the team on Monday afternoon. 

The Englishman was forced to play two rounds on Friday as a result of fog wiping out five hours of play on Thursday. 

Wallace opened with a 65 and then added a brilliant 63 later in the afternoon. 

France's Adrien Saddier (62, 65) leads England's Wallace by one shot thru 36 holes.

Saddier is seeking a second title on the DP World Tour in his last six starts having won for the first time at the Italian Open at the end of June. 

Wallace is not only looking to become the first player to successfully defend the European Masters since Matt Fitzpatrick in 2018 but also take one of Donald's six picks.

A sixth career DP World Tour title would most certainly give him every chance of making the team for the first time in his career. 

England's Jordan Smith (63, 66) and 2022 European Masters winner Thriston Lawrence (63, 66) are also in the mix at 11-under par. 

The quartet have opened up a gap between themselves and the rest of the field as it stands, albeit half the field has yet to complete 36 holes. 

Players will return early on Saturday morning to complete the second round.

The halfway cut is expected to fall at either 2 or 3-under par. 

Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard finished two rounds at a sluggish level par, which means he will not only miss the cut but also now miss out on receiving one of Donald's six Ryder Cup picks.

His twin Rasmus Hojgaard is safely through to his first Ryder Cup team having automatically qualified last week. 

England's Marco Penge still has an outside chance of receiving a pick but he will need a huge weekend performance similar to last week at The Belfry if he's going to force Donald's hand.

Penge looks on from 4-under par following rounds of 70 and 66. 

France's Mike Lorenzo-Vera officially retired from DP World Tour action after finishing well down the field on 8-over par.

A teary-eyed Lorenzo-Vera was greeted by his children as he played the final hole.

He admitted he 'played like s***' following rounds of 73 and 75.