European Open: The muddy spectator walkways outside the ropes at The K Club are about a zillion miles from a fashion ramp.

Instead of glitzy high heels, those sensible spectators who attended yesterday's second round of the Smurfit Kappa European Open at The K Club wore foot attire that included hiking boots, Wellingtons and galoshes - but, unquestionably, the winner of the fashion stakes was a guy playing inside the ropes.

Pelle Edberg, the midway leader of the €3.6 million tournament, is definitely someone who stands out from the crowd. But not usually for his golfing exploits.

He could walk down Grafton Street without anyone knowing who he was, an anonymous face in the crowd. He ain't Tiger, and he ain't Ernie. Even the most fanatical golf fan would be hard pressed to pick him out in an identity parade.

Edberg's trademark headband - the type worn by cross-country skiers - is the kind of bold statement that makes heads turn. In a world occupied by visors and baseball caps, his choice of headwear may not be to everyone's taste, but it is different and he has a collection of them that make up the colours of the rainbow in his wardrobe.

It's just as well that Pelle - his real Christian name is actually Per - is recognisable for his headgear because, up to now, his golf has hardly enabled him to grab much of the public limelight.

He is ranked 460th in the official world rankings, is 102nd on the European Tour Order of Merit, and has never won a professional tournament. Anywhere! So, just who is Pelle Edberg? Well, he admits to be a touch forgetful.

There have been occasions where he's walked out of the airport leaving his suitcase behind on the carousel only becoming aware of the situation after receiving a phone call from lost luggage, and other occasions where he has left restaurants leaving his wallet behind on the table.

And, no, he's not related to fellow Swede Stefan Edberg, the tennis legend of the same surname.

Although, as it happens, his father's name is . . . Stefan. "But it's not that Stefan," said the new Swedish export with the Edberg name of the tennis player who dominated clay courts around the world.

As well as playing golf, he also excelled in the less glamorous world of a sport called floorball - akin to indoor hockey - and was ranked in the top-10 in table tennis in Sweden as a 15-year-old before deciding that golf would be his chosen career.

Yet, suddenly, people are starting to stare and take notice of him for all the right reasons. His golf.

Now, Edberg is in new territory. With only one top-10 finish in his career, which came in this season's TCL Classic in China, Edberg - who shot a 65 for 132, eight-under, which gave him a one shot midway lead in the European Open over compatriot Niclas Fasth and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie - goes into the weekend over the Smurfit Course attempting to make a name for himself and ensure that his face is recognised for more reason that simply the fact he has a skier's headband above it.

Edberg, though, only has to look over his shoulder, and probably be reminded every time he looks at the giant scoreboards dotted around the course, of those he has in pursuit, among them one-time European kingpin Montgomerie and Fasth, a winner on his last outing in the BMW International a fortnight ago and who has so far managed to offset the effect of flu.

Monty, who hasn't won on tour this season, shot a best-of-the-day second round 64 to propel himself into contention. It is where he wants to be. "That's what I've missed, the competition out here because I haven't been in contention and that's what I live for," said the Scot, a three-time Irish Open champion who has never managed to add the European Open to his impressive curriculum vitae.

With the cut falling on 141, one-over-par, only three Irish players survived into the weekend: Padraig Harrington, despite being affected by an old knee injury, and Graeme McDowell, both lying seven shots adrift of Edberg on 139, and David Higgins who made the most of his sponsor's invite by shooting a bogey-free 68 for 141 to survive right on the cut mark.