Ryder Cup hero Padraig Harrington seized the initiative in his battle with South African Retief Goosen to win the European Order of Merit title today shooting a five-under-par 66 in the second round of the Madrid Open.
The 31-year-old Irishman is four shots to the good of Goosen - who leads Harrington by £34,000 - going into the weekend and just one ahead of veteran compatriot Des Smyth, who shot a superb 63.
However Harrington's sole command of top spot was challenged later when Goosen's unheralded 22-year-old fellow South African Trevor Immelman carded a 65 to share the lead.
Aussie youngster Adam Scott also kept up the pressure on Harirngton shooting a 65 as well to lie just one shot off the pace.
Not all the players could complete their rounds as a 90 minute delay for fog led to several having to start out early tomorrow to finish them off.
Harrington's fellow Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood is still in contention but saw himself toppled off the outright leader's spot shooting a one-under-par 70.
Harrington, twice a winner on the course, would have been even further ahead of Goosen but for two late bogeys, the one on the last causing him most irritation.
"I just went to sleep," he admitted. "My mind went elsewhere and I just let it slip past. It's frustrating but I will aim not to repeat the same mistake on Saturday and Sunday," he added.
Smyth was joined near the top of the leader board by victorious Ryder Cup captain and fellow 49-year-old Sam Torrance, who scored a scintillating 66.
Smyth was eyeing bettering his record as the oldest winner on the Tour which he accomplished last year in the Madeira Open.
Smyth saw his round as the perfect omen for his attempt to try and earn a qualifying card for next year's USPGA Seniors Tour.
"They only give out eight of them and I am desperate to get one of them. It's going to be tough but the form I am showing going into it augurs well," said Smyth, who was on the 1981 Ryder Cup team with Torrance.
Torrance for his part joked one of the spin-offs from his guiding Europe to their epic win over the USA last month had been to strengthen his muscles.
"I feel like my hand is so strong after having it shaken so much in the last three weeks that I would be confident of taking on Mike Tyson!"