Higgins thrives on the power of positive thinking

With his European Tour future hanging in the balance, Ireland's David Higgins came up with the round of his life in the Madrid Open. A nine-under-par 62 containing nine birdies propelled the 28-year-old, 128th on this year's money list, into the halfway lead on the 13-under-par total of 129. He is a stroke ahead of the Order of Merit leader – come tonight that should be Order of Merit winner – Retief Goosen and the English pair Steve Webster and Brian Davis, Webster also scoring a 62.

Finishing in the top 10 could spare Higgins a fifth trip to the tour qualifying school in three weeks' time, but he is aiming much higher after finding a new way to play. "I've been putting too much pressure on myself and getting down, but coming here I just told myself to relax," he said. "If I do it I do it, but if I don't I'll just go to the school. I have nothing to lose and I'm trying not to think about the situation I'm in. The tournament starts now for me, but with the position I am in, to do this at this time is fantastic. It feels great."

Higgins nearly came up with the perfect finish of a hole-in-one at the 177-yard ninth, but the ball stopped an inch away from what would have been his seventh ace. The tap-in gave him two halves of 31 and the round would have been a course record at Club de Campo but for cleaning and placing being allowed on the wet fairways.

Higgins, the son of the European Seniors Tour player Liam, also holed seven putts of between 10 and 22 feet and said: "I filled my mind with positive thoughts and holed some lovely ones."

When he won the Irish and South of Ireland amateur titles in 1994 the player he beat in the final both times was Padraig Harrington, this week's defending champion and first-round leader. The Ryder Cup player, who also won the 1996 Spanish Open on the course, could not rediscover the magic of his opening 63, a 72 dropping him six behind.

Goosen, round in 64, can get the Order of Merit celebrations ready. Darren Clarke, the only player who can catch him, had only a 69 for six under and even if the Ulsterman still comes through to win, Goosen, £473,000 clear, would have to collapse to be overhauled.

"We have a couple of eight-litre champagne bottles left over from our wedding earlier this year," said the South African. "I'm off next week and if it's settled here I am sure we can polish them off."

MADRID OPEN, Leading second round scores (GB and Irl unless stated): 129 D Higgins 67 62. 130 B Davis 66 64; R Goosen (SA) 66 64; S Webster 68 62. 132 MA Jimenez (Sp) 65 67. 134 D Lynn 68 66; H Nystrom (Swe) 67 67; F Andersson (Swe) 69 65; S Gallacher 64 70; D Borrego (Sp) 69 65; J Rystrom (Swe) 67 67; A Marshall 66 68. 135 R Coles 66 69; M Brier (Aut) 67 68; F Roca (Sp) 67 68; C Rodiles (Sp) 65 70; P Harrington 63 72; P Price 66 69; V Phillips 68 67. 136 R Green (Aus) 69 67; JM Olazabal (Sp) 69 67; D Clarke 67 69; A Forsyth 69 67; R Winchester 71 65; J Bickerton 69 67; T Gogele (Ger) 68 68; S Dodd 71 65. 137 I Garrido (Sp) 70 67; D Park 68 69; A Cabrera (Arg) 68 69; A Hansen (Den) 68 69; E Romero (Arg) 70 67; M Roe 67 70; G Owen 67 70; A Salto (Sp) 69 68.