It proved a disappointing second round for lone Australian entrant List, as he could only follow up his handy opening round of 66 with a three-over par 73 which left him just scraping into the weekend with a one-under total.

Things had been going well until the Perth player reached the 14th and he suffered a calamitous double-bogey, bogey, double-bogey run over a three-hole stretch.

Norris has enjoyed a fine start to the 2025 season, winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December and recording two other top-10 finishes in his four starts so far. 

But he revealed after his round on Friday: “I picked up an ear infection on Tuesday afternoon and saw the doctor on Wednesday. 

“Tried to flush it out, but it’s not worked, put me on antibiotics and things like that, but it’s frustrating. 

“I can’t hear anything out of my left side and it’s bugging me. But you know what, somehow it’s not bothering me on the golf course.”

Indeed, Norris continued his impressive form as he reeled off seven birdies to reach 11-under par and sit one stroke clear of Adrien Saddier at the top of the leaderboard ahead of the weekend. 

Scotland’s Connor Syme and Indian former champion Shubhankar Sharma shot second-round 65s to share third place on nine under.