Scandinavian Masters: But instead of a fine, the 43-year-old found himself in a share of the lead and chasing the €266,600 first prize in the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters.

Roe's second-round 65 at Barseback ended in amazing fashion with a birdie on the 18th despite snapping his club while playing his approach shot from behind a tree.

"I was about a foot away from it and if I hit the shot I wanted to, I would definitely have broken my arm or my wrist," explained Roe.

"The other option was to aim 30 yards left and hit a big cut with a seven-iron, but even that was risky. I knew the club would snap and it could come back and stab me in the arm.

"What I am trying to say is I'm incredibly brave and luck favours the brave. I hit it well and it landed about six feet from the pin."

Holing the putt gave Roe a 10-under-par total of 134 and a share of the lead with Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts, who carded his second consecutive 67.

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson was two shots back on eight under after bogeys on the last two holes in a 67.

Best of the Irish is Peter Lawrie, who shot a second-round 72 to be on two under, eight shots behind the leaders.

As for the incident back in 1995 that saw him disciplined by tour officials, Roe recalled: "I made an 11 at the 12th hole and a 10 at the 13th. On the 12th I hit a six-inch putt 45 yards back down the fairway - an emotional meltdown I suppose.

"I got fined £2,000 because I wrote to the tour committee and said in my defence it did hit the lip."

Roe lies 144th on the Order of Merit and is in danger of losing his card after 21 unbroken years on tour, but he revealed he would happily retire if he failed to keep his playing privileges.

"I'm 43 years old and I never really intended to play this long," added Roe, who was famously disqualified - because of a scorecard mix-up with playing partner Jesper Parnevik - from the British Open at Sandwich in 2003 when leading in the clubhouse during the third round.

"I have beautiful twin daughters and I just miss them incredibly and want to see more of them. Emily said to me the other week, 'Daddy, can you play all your tournaments at Effingham (my local club) and then you could come home every night and be with us?' When your kids start saying that, it's time to take another look at it and this is not the most important thing in my life.

"Last year was a struggle and I had to do well in one of the last counting events to keep my card. I've played well on the odd occasion this season. Every now and then I like to pop up on the leaderboard and give myself a bit of a buzz. Unless I'm doing that I don't feel like playing the game, to be honest.

"If I do keep my card I'll just play 12 events next year. If I don't I'll retire."

Overnight joint leader Benn Barham - still playing with borrowed clubs after his failed to arrive from London on Tuesday - could only manage a 73 to drop back to four under.

"Even if the clubs don't arrive now I'd still like to know where they are for the peace of mind. I don't want to think I may never see them again," he said.