Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance produced a blast from the past today to give himself a chance to become the oldest winner in European tour history.
Starting from a lowly 47th place after two rounds of the Compass Group English Open at the Forest of Arden, Torrance fired a seven-under-par 65 and moved into a share of the lead with little-known Robert-Jan Derksen, who also shot 65, and Darren Clarke and David Drysdale before they had even teed off today.
Torrance - two months away from his 49th birthday - ended the round in disappointed mood, though, after finishing with a bogey four.
He had gone to the turn in a mere 31 strokes and when he added further birdies on the 11th, 12th and 17th - a brilliant one there - he led on his own. But his tee shot to the 211-yard 18th was pushed into sand, and his recovery came out 20 feet short of the flag.
The Scot who is also the European Ryder Cup captain slumped to 180th on the Order of Merit last season but is the longest-serving active player on tour, this his 669th event in a 31-year career.
Torrance said: "I had no motivation the last two seasons - my mind was somewhere else - but I think now that there's definitely another win left in me. "Age is only a number. I am very fit, supple; my shoulder turn's good, and so is my nerve."
Thanks to a diet change Torrance has shed more than three stones off the 16-stone frame he had just 18 months ago. "The last today leaves a bit of a bitter taste, but I played very solidly otherwise. Lead by example - that's what I was always told."
Earlier the three other Irish players who made the cut, Eamonn Darcy (73), Philip Walton (72) and Paul McGinley (72) all finished their day tied on one-under overall.
PA