The home favourite, a six-time winner on the US Tour, mixed five birdies with four bogeys in his second round, which started on the back nine. A long chip-in for eagle on the par-five seventh helped him stay close to the leaders. Leishman said he felt he was playing well and doing everything he could to perform over the weekend, hoping to finish strongly and contend for the title.

Rankin moved to a seven-under total of 135, holding a two-shot advantage after enduring 27 holes in Brisbane’s heat and humidity following Thursday’s storm-shortened opening round. He had shot seven-under par early on Friday before adding a 69 in the second round. The 39-year-old admitted that a double-bogey on the par-three 17th was frustrating, and reflected on the physical challenges of approaching 40. Rankin said that a win would be the biggest achievement of his career so far, aside from having his daughter.

The lead was narrow, with Rankin just one stroke ahead of Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia, local golfer Christopher Wood, and Frenchman Tom Vaillant. Australian Geoff Ogilvy, winner of the 2006 US Open, posted a 68 to reach five under, four shots behind the leader, keeping himself firmly in contention.

Leishman and the chasing pack will look to carry their momentum into the weekend rounds as they attempt to catch Rankin and claim the season-opening European Tour title.