And after slipping to a tie for 23rd in last week's Irish Open after sharing the lead at halfway, the 28-year-old has extra motivation to claim a second win of the year in the European Tour's flagship event.

"I've worked really hard the last three weeks," Willett said. "I was a bit lax going into the Players Championship and last week we were grinding for three days and had glimpses of good golf in there.

"I've been on the range again this week. Just because you win a big tournament doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels, I'd rather work to win the next one."

Graeme McDowell dropped a shot early in his second round at Wentworth. He was two under after two holes, while Shane Lowry starts later on three under.

Hend, who won his second European Tour title in Thailand in March, carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey on the 15th as a more conservative approach paid off for the big-hitting 43-year-old.

"I tried aggressive last year and it really doesn't work," said the world number 85, who missed the cut on his debut last year. "So I thought I'd just be a little bit cautious (off the tee) and a bit more aggressive into the greens. We'll see how that plays out during the week.

"There's a long three more days to go but I'm comfortable wherever I'm playing, whether I'm running last or whether I'm running first. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep going."

Yang, who made history in the 2009 US PGA as the first player to come from behind to beat Tiger Woods in the final round of a major, also carded eight birdies and one bogey, while Luiten bogeyed the first and 16th but fired nine birdies to bounce back in style from rounds of 75 and 80 in Ireland.

Australia's Richard Green, England's Robert Rock and South Africa's Jaco van Zyl were two shots off the pace, with former world number one and two-time champion Luke Donald delighted with an opening 68.

"The last year or two has been tough, I've struggled to gain confidence and feel comfortable but the last couple of months I'm feeling more and more comfortable and it's nice to see some better results," Donald said. "I feel like I am on the upward path."

Defending champion Byeong Hun An had held the early lead when he carded four birdies in succession from the fourth, only to bogey the ninth and cover the back nine in 40 to card a level-par 72.