Defending champion Adrian Otaegui shares Andalucia Masters lead at halfway mark

The home favourite, who secured a spectacular six-shot victory at nearby Real Club Valderrama 12 months ago to win this title, followed up his opening 66 with a patient second-round 69 on Friday afternoon to join Louis de Jager and Jeong weon Ko at the summit on nine under par.

Starting the day two shots off the lead, Otaegui opened his second round with a tap-in birdie, but had to wait a while for his next one after making 14 straight pars.

The four-time DP World Tour winner missed a series of birdie opportunities during that run but made no mistake from 20 feet on the 16th green before making it two in a row at the 17th.

He had an outside chance to complete his birdie hat-trick and take the outright lead on the 18th, but instead settled for a two-putt par and a clean card.

Speaking about managing to avoid making a bogey, Otaegui said: "I'm proud.

"I think I played very solid from tee to green, didn't put myself in too much trouble over the last two days.

"I thought at the beginning of the round (the wind) was pumping quite strong so it's obviously easy to make a silly mistake or a bogey so that's a good thing as well."

READ MORE: Is Tiger Woods set to return to action at November's Hero World Challenge?