European and US tours: Colin Montgomerie moved into the lead, had "Happy Birthday" sung to him, was presented with a cake and was made to laugh by a youngster answering him back.
Yet still the Scottish star came off not with a smile but a scowl after a second successive 68 in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
What Montgomerie really wanted on the day he became a 43-year-old was to finish on a high note - and he palpably failed to do that.
Last Sunday, of course, his hopes of a first major title were dashed by a closing double bogey in the US Open.
He then spoilt his opening round on Thursday with a bogey six at the 18th, so when he three-putted for 'only' a par five on his return to the course a worrying trend had not escaped his attention.
"I don't know what's going on there - it's very disappointing to finish badly again," said Montgomerie."That's the third round in a row and that's not good. Not good at all. If I can't two-putt from 20 feet there's something wrong."
Montgomerie simply had to see the funny side, however, of his exchange with a small boy at the back of a grandstand by the 18th green.
Backing off his chip brought the normal request for 'Quiet please' from caddie Alastair McLean. Some onlookers thought they heard the boy say "I need the toilet" but Montgomerie heard it as "You be quiet" and fell into laughter.
"Well, that's a new one," he commented. "It's the first time I've actually been answered back by a two-year-old."
Once he had time to reflect on his 10-under-par 136 halfway total Montgomerie could not be unhappy, especially when former Ryder Cup team-mate Thomas Bjorn, ahead by two overnight, then failed to rediscover the magic of his opening 65.
The Dane remained eight under with an outward 36, but as the wind picked up strength he bogeyed the 350-yard 11th, had a double-bogey seven on the long 12th and finished with a six to fall four behind following a 75.
Into second place came another golfer of undoubted quality, however, in England's Paul Casey. He also took seven on the 12th, but there were already three birdies on his card and three more were to come for a 71.
Stephen Browne continues to lead the Irish challenge with a second round 74 for a halfway total of 142. One shot back are David Higgins, Peter Lawrie and Paul McGinley with Damien McGrane on 146 also in for the weekend. Gary Murphy and Michael Hoey missed the cut.
