Thomas Bjorn's return to the Smurfit European Open at the K Club - the event which turned into a nightmare last year - has gone like a dream so far.
Twelve months ago, the 34-year-old Dane walked off after six holes, fled Dublin in a real state and went home to fight the demons which had turned him into a quivering wreck on the course.
Now, after a second round 69, he stands five under par at halfway and shares top spot with Welshman Jamie Donaldson.
Out of the tournament this time - after missing the cut, not walking out – are Padraig Harrington and his Ryder Cup team-mates Paul McGinley, Paul Casey and
Ian Poulter.
Poulter improved 13 strokes on his opening 81, but it still was not quite enough, while the other three all finished down on nine over par.
For Harrington, a winner in America again last Sunday, that represented his worst 36-hole total in Europe since 1996.
He blamed mental fatigue and he hopes to have his focus back for the Open at St Andrews in two weeks' time.
Bjorn is looking forward to that too, having finished second behind Tiger Woods on his first visit to the Home of Golf in 2000, but he is concentrating on this weekend first.
With first round leader Trevor Immelman managing only a 76 and defending champion Retief Goosen 74, Donaldson was another to take advantage.
The 29-year-old, out for six months last year because of serious back trouble, has just had to have another three weeks off after it flared up again, but has had only one bogey in 36 holes so far.
Darren Clarke had not played competitively for a month because of his wife's
health, but a 71 for four under put him joint third with English pair Jonathan
Lomas and Graeme Storm, Bjorn's compatriot Anders Hansen and Australian Brett
Rumford.
There was a hole-in-one for the second day running. But whereas Simon Wakefield won a car for his at the eighth Stephen Dodd's ace at the third brought a bottle of champagne and a weekend for two.
