Darren Clarke dragged himself back into contention on the second day of the season-ending US Tour Championship in Houston.
Clarke struggled to an opening 74 at Champions Golf Club and admitted it could easily have been much worse as he battled a destructive hook.
The Irishman headed straight to the practice ground to iron out the problem with coach Butch Harmon and it paid immediate dividends as he carded a second round 68 for a level par halfway total of 142.
That was just four shots off the lead shared by six players, including former European number one Retief Goosen and overnight leader Charles Howell.
Clarke carded four birdies and one bogey and traded blows with playing partner Vijay Singh, whose own 68 left him one under par and well placed to defend his lead at the top of the tour money list.
Only a Tiger Woods victory can prevent Singh from finishing top for the first time, and even then the Fijian can still triumph by finishing in joint third or better.
Woods, seeking an unprecedented fifth straight money list crown, was just one shot off the lead after 13 holes of his second round, the world number one picking up birdies at the fifth and 13th.