Greg Owen spoke today about his "hard life" on the European tour - as he moved into contention for a £250,000 jackpot.
A second successive bogey-free 68 took him into the joint halfway lead with Australian Richard Green at the Daily Telegraph Damovo British Masters at the Forest of Arden.
Owen tried to open people's eyes to his profession. "It's a damn hard job," he said. "There are 156 players in the field and only one person can win. It's well rewarded, but it's not as glamorous as everyone thinks it is."
Colin Montgomerie will not be a rival attraction in the final two rounds, however, after missing his second successive cut.
Left-hander Green moved alongside Owen with a 66. He holed his pitch to the 381-yard fourth for an eagle two and then finished with three birdies.
Owen and Green ended the day one ahead of David Lynn and German Marcel Siem, first day leader Peter Fowler dropping back to four under with a 75.
Defending champion Justin Rose, five under with 11 to play, survived the cut with nothing to spare at level par, as did last week's Wales Open winner Ian Poulter.
Pre-tournament favourite Darren Clarke is two under and Lee Westwood a disappointing one under despite a hole-in-one at the fifth.
Montgomerie was not the only member of last September's Ryder Cup team to bow out. Philip Price finished three over and Pierre Fulke two over, while Paul McGinley had to pull out after five holes of his second round because of a neck spasm. He was two under at the time.
Ireland's Damian McGrane carded a second round 67 to leave himself on two under par and leading the Irish charge.
The Wexford club pro put the disappointment of a first round 75 behind him to shoot a glorious 67, leaving himself level with defending champion Darren Clarke and six off the clubhouse lead held by Richard Green and Greg Owen of Australia and England respectively.
McGrane, a prodigious winner on the Irish PGA circuit, opened in stunning fashion, with birdies on the first three holes before giving one back on the par four sixth.
The Irishman regained his composure immediately, however, with a birdie on the seventh and then went on to card a two under par back nine, with birdies on 12 and 16.
Peter Lawrie is one under par following a disappointing collapse from four under to finish with a round of two over 74.