While confined to his home in northern Spain with a serious foot problem, Jose-Maria Olazabal watched the telecast of the 1996 US Masters and vowed: "One day I will be back there." He has appeared twice at Augusta National since then, but only yesterday, with a stunning 66, did he manage to break 70.

It brought him an eight-under-par halfway total of 136 for a one-stroke lead over the 33-year-old American, Scott McCarron. And a stroke further back is Greg Norman who, only 24 hours after pleading for more media attention, generated his own good news story with a fine 68 for 139, the same total as US Open champion, Lee Janzen.

On a day when Darren Clarke shot a dispiriting 78 to depart the scene on 153, the broomhandle putter loomed large as a saviour for fragile nerves on treacherous greens. Not only did it help McCarron to card six birdies, it delivered a 66 for Bernhard Langer, who was champion here in 1985 and 1993.

Despite an acknowledged tougher course, brought about by the addition of rough and changes to four holes, the cut on 148 - four over par - was two strokes lower than last year. But it was sufficiently generous to allow Vijay Singh, Sandy Lyle, John Daly and Shigeki Maruyama to survive on the limit.

The priceless value of an Augusta pedigree was exemplified by Olazabal, who came here with decidedly moderate form this season, culminating in a missed cut in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta last weekend. Indeed strictly on form, it was difficult to see him as a potential European standard-bearer.

A seductive venue clearly worked its magic, however, as he compiled an exemplary, bogey-free round. And four of his six birdies came in a homeward 32.

Especially notable was the one at the long 15th where, after hitting a one-iron second through the green, he played a glorious, 30foot run-up shot with a nine-iron, which finished within inches of the pin.

There was also an impressive birdie at the 18th where he was favoured by freshening winds towards the end of a largely overcast day. From a three-wood off the tee, he hit a nine iron to 10 feet above the hole and sank the downhill putt with total assurance.

It was a truly wonderful effort for the 1994 champion, who seems to have overcome his Achilles heel of wayward driving. Typically, he understated the achievement, saying: "As far as getting the ball on the fairway is concerned, I'm pleased."

Looking at Norman, even in a decidedly buoyant mood, it was impossible not to be drawn back to one of sports most poignant scenes of recent decades. Indeed many of us were moved close to tears by his gracious acceptance of what must have been a heartbreaking reversal, when he lost to Nick Faldo here in 1996.

"God, I'd love to be putting on that green jacket," he had said in his moment of torment. "But it's not the end of the world for me. My life is going to continue."

Now, he was back at Augusta, having had shoulder surgery since missing the cut last year. And prior to coming here, he had sought the help of coach David Leadbetter, who once guided Faldo's fortunes.

Indeed there was inescapable irony in Norman's surge back to prominence while his tormentor departed the scene after a second round of 73 for 153. So, the threetime Masters champion, was missing his third successive cut here.

For his part, Norman's grief at Augusta extended beyond 1996 back to narrow defeats in 1986, behind Jack Nicklaus, and 1987 in that crushing, play-off defeat to a chip-in by Larry Mize. Given all of that, did he feel the tournament owed him a victory? "I don't see it that way," he replied. "You've got to go out there and get it yourself."

It could have been an anthem for Colin Montgomerie, who went to the top of the leaderboard on four under par, when he holed a 90-yard sandwedge for an eagle two at the 350-yard third hole. And when his round turned sour with bogeys at the next three holes, the big Scot still had the resolve to carve out an admirable 72 and remain in contention on 142.

But a notoriously demanding course still took its toll on some of the world's best players. Even David Duval, who was among those to finish their first round at 9.0 yesterday morning, was feeling the pinch in a decidedly moderate second round of 74 which contained only three birdies, none of them at the par fives.

Then there was the disappointment for the holder, Mark O'Meara, of carding bogeys at the 17th and 18th in a 76 for 146. "You have to putt well here and I didn't have the speed of the greens all day," he lamented.

Tiger Woods covered the par fives in level par and needed a birdie on the 18th for a second successive 72. And while Seve Ballesteros failed for a third successive year, Sergio Garcia, the player who honours him like a father, survived on 147.

For his part, Norman recovered from a bogey at the first to card three birdies in the next four holes, sinking putts of five, 15 and 30 feet. Further birdies came at the short 12th, after a seven-iron to 20 feet, and at the long 13th, where a five-wood third shot almost knocked out the flag.

While being interviewed after a 71 the previous day, the Shark remarked: "I like it better when you guys talk to me more." He could be set for quite a talkative weekend.