There was a sense that Padraig Harrington's self-professed last roll of the dice could turn into something magical over the weekend as he walked off the formidable 17th tee at Kiawah Island.
Playing the back nine first, Harrington had just launched a low bullet to within 15 feet of the pin on the difficult par 3.
At that point he was one shot off the lead, with Casey Connors' overnight advantage wiped out thanks to his struggles on his front nine.
By the end it was his playing partner - and old friend - Phil Mickelson who was lighting the way in the increasingly windy conditions.
Mickelson - who at 50 is Harrington's senior by one year - shot 69 for the second round lead, leaving him five shots ahead of the Dubliner.
Yet three-time major winner Harrington is still in this one, with the wind still forecast to whip around the seaside course over the next couple of days.
“I’m bullish about where I am and I’m sure Phil is, too," said Harrington later.
"Watching from the outside with Phil, if it’s not a good week, he’s going to push no matter what.
“Even second would be a disappointment for Phil.
“I’m a little bit like that, too. I’d have no interest if you said to me now I’m going to finish 10th. It doesn’t do my career any good.
“It doesn’t do Phil any good. That might make it harder for us at times because we over-push and over-try because winning is the only thing that will bring any satisfaction to myself or Phil."
The European Ryder Cup captain's second round got motoring with a birde on the par 4 13th hole.
Although that chance to tie the lead on 17 was missed, Harrington was in good shape having gone bogey-free down that difficult final three-hole stretch as he began his second nine.
His first drop shot followed on the first green. It was a similar story at the fourth, fifth and ninth, though he also produced two birdies, fighting hard to hold his round together to card a 73.
That was two shots worse than an opening round notable for such consistent scrambling around the greens, and good enough for an even-par total at the halfway mark to find himself well inside the cut.
