The Irishman finds Wentworth is suiting his game perfectly, writes PHILIP REID

THE VAGARIES of this game can intrigue. Take David Higgins, who – in his amateur days – out-duelled a certain Pádraig Harrington down the home stretch in a number of championships. Since seeking a living as tour pros, their paths have gone in opposite directions: while Harrington evolved into one of world golf’s big names and claimed three Majors, Higgins juggled periods on the main tour, the Challenge Tour, on mini-tours and on the Irish PGA Region.

Yesterday, though, things flipped around.

For a change, Higgins – playing at Wentworth through his position in the Irish PGA order of merit – contrived not only to outscore Harrington, just like in the old days on the amateur circuit in the early 1990s, but provided a reminder of just how good a player he can be when given the chance to rub shoulders with the big guns on the circuit.

These days, Higgins plays wherever and whenever he can. It could be on the Irish PGA circuit; or, occasionally on the Challenge Tour where he cut his teeth and – back in 2000 – won three times. Or here. This is his 14th appearance in the BMW PGA Championship and a genuine liking for the course, where his low ball flight is a help, and a desire to make the most of the opportunity has inspired him.

Higgins yesterday rolled in a 25-footer for birdie on the 18th to sign for a second successive 70, which left him on a midway total of 140, four-under par, and with a big weekend ahead of him. He can tick a lot of boxes. For instance, a top-10 finish would earn him an invite into next week’s Wales Open at Celtic Manor.

“I’m on the right track and we’ll keep going, keeping doing what we’re doing. We’re getting there,” he said, with a nod to his caddie – Waterville club pro Kieran O’Sullivan – who has been a good influence these past two days. “I’ve targets, good high ambitions. But I’ll keep that to myself. When we played the practice rounds, we looked at each other and said, ‘we can compete on this course because it’s playing [like] links and it suits my game.

“I’ve driven it fantastic, a nice low ball flight. If you can keep it low, you keep it under the trees so then you keep it out of the wind. It’s going well so far . . . I know the course well and the trick out there is picking which way the wind blows because it blows all over the place.

“I did quite well the first two days in it and I have to keep doing the same. Once you pick a shot you have to commit to it and if it’s wrong, it’s wrong but you have to hit it well and I’ve done that.”

Obviously, the bigger occasions suit Higgins. In his two outings on the Challenge Tour this season, in the Kenya Open and the Allianz Open in France, he missed the cut. But he came here with intent. He’d spent part of the winter practising in Barbados – “Mr McManus and John [Magnier] made it possible for me,” he said – and had played well in Irish PGA events. His actions have backed up his own belief.

“What I have to do is just do what I did the first two days and not think about anything else. That’s when you start to go off-kilter a bit. Stay doing what you’re doing.”

No doubt, Mr Harrington, who caught an early plane home, will be keeping an eye on his old amateur adversary.