Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen blazed his way to an eight-under 64 in the second round on Saturday to grab a share of first place alongside Norwegian Viktor Hovland on the celebrated English course. Lee’s fellow West Australian Jason Scrivener followed up his terrific opening 66 with a 69 to lie only three shots off the lead.

The event has been reduced to 54 holes after play on Friday was cancelled following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Lee put on a sizzling show by carding a 10-under round, but following his poor start with a 76 on Thursday, he's still only on six-under for the tournament, six shots adrift of the leaders.

His 62 would have officially equalled the course record if preferred lies hadn't been in play on Saturday.

“That's just golf. I had a pretty tough year this year other than the majors,” Lee said. “I'm proud of that … But yeah, just everything decided to go in the hole and it was just one of those days.”

Kjeldsen had a dismal start when he made bogey on the opening hole but soon found his groove, sinking an eagle on the par-5 4th before making seven birdies in a superb round to end the day at 12-under for the tournament.

RIGHT: Jason Scrivener sits just three back of the lead after a second round of 69 at Wentworth. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.

"Obviously I don't hit it a long way but if I hit it solid and I hit it into the fairway, it's possible for me to compete," said Kjeldsen, who has four wins on the Tour.

Hovland, the joint-leader from Thursday, was steady on the greens but undone by a costly bogey on the par-4 15th, eventually carding a four-under 68.

Four-time major winner McIlroy was among three players tied for third at 11-under after the Northern Irishman shot a bogey-free 65, with Matthew Jordan and Shane Lowry among a group of five players one shot further back.

McIlroy was thrilled with his putting after making two excellent saves on the 13th and 16th before ending his round with two successive birdies.

"Par putt on 16 was huge ... I thought my putting today was really good, and that's really what's kept me in the tournament," said the 33-year-old.

McIlroy is chasing a rare double as he leads the overall DP World Tour standings, having already won the PGA Tour's FedExCup for a third time last month.

"I had that great finish in the States, I wanted to turn my attention to here and win the Rankings. It would be great to win it for the fourth time, and I didn't want to let up," he added.

The day was a struggle for Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who led after the first round but saw his challenge fall away following a one-over 73.

Queenslander Maverick Antcliff is, like Lee, on six under after shooting two 69s.