Laurie Canter's aggressive approach pays off as he grabs European Open lead

The Englishman is a four-time runner-up on the DP World Tour but is still seeking his first win having featured sparingly on the Europe-based circuit in recent seasons following his move to LIV Golf.

He started day two in Hamburg four shots off the lead but carded a bogey-free 66 from the kinder side of the draw in the weather-affected tournament and is now hoping to take full advantage.

"There's such a long way to go," he said. "I've had leads before in tournaments and you can approach it one of two ways. I'm determined this weekend to go out and keep attacking the golf course as much as I can and play as well as I can. I don't see any point in holding off.

"I think there is a low score in the 60s out there as the leader proved yesterday with a nine under, that was a phenomenal score but it shows it can be done so I think in the position I'm in, I'm going to try and keep my foot down.

"It's golf so I'm expecting a few things to come my way but I have to approach it with a lot of positivity and don't hold back at all for 36 holes and see where I end up. Although I've got a lead, I know the nature of golf and I don't want to be playing negatively to any pin, I want to try and take it on for the rest of the week."

Canter birdied the 10th and 14th and an eagle after a stunning second to six feet at the par-five 15th put him in a share of the lead before further gains on the 18th, first and fourth moved him to 12 under.

Dane Niklas Norgaard and first-round leader Jannik De Bruyn — who fought back to level par on the day after turning in 42 — were the nearest challengers.

A three-hour fog delay on day one and a three-hour flood delay on Friday left event organisers playing catch up, with England's Garrick Porteous at seven under with four to play one of 20 players who did not complete round two on Friday.