FRANCESCO MOLINARI charged back with his lowest-ever round - a 62 - on the second day of the Portuguese Masters.
The Ryder Cup-winning star was furious with himself after posting two-over 74 on day one at Vilamoura - less than a week after missing the cut in the Dunhill Links.
But he emerged yesterday to snatch 10 birdies - three in succession to end his round - and move into contention on eight-under 136.
The Ital ian is now f ive behind Dutch leader Maarten Lafeber, who shot 67 for 131.
For Turin-born Molinari, whose wife, Valent ina, is expecting the couple's first child in February, his Algarve effort beats three previous rounds of 63.
He said: "Af ter my f irst round produced a 74 I was so disappointed and upset that I felt like kicking the hotel door. I was very angry inside. You have to focus to play well.
"But this morning I felt a lot different from yesterday and also from last week at the Dunhill.
"Hav ing played in the Ryder Cup I now expect more of myself - and I expect it to be easier to play back out on the Tour. Knowing golf, it doesn't always work the way you expect, though."
Scot Paul Lawrie is playing good golf and is also f ive behind the front-runners after adding a 69 to his 67.
Fellow Aberdonian Richie Ramsay was first out and shot a 68 for 138 thanks to si x birdies and two bogeys.
Among the birdies were three-putts from 25 feet at his first, 13th and 14th holes.
Ramsay said: "I holed a lot of good putts today and also had a lot of other chances so it was an easy 68. I kept on plugging away even when I was missing opportunities.
"It was funny. Straight after holing a 25-footer, I would then miss a five-footer."
Michael Campbell's good form was short-lived. The former US Open winner crashed out after adding a 77 to his 67. Also out is Glasgow's Marc Warren after rounds of 75 and 71 and David Drysdale (74, 71.
LEADING SCORES 131 - Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67.
133 -Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 68 134 - Jose-Fi l ipe Lima (Por) 64, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67.
135 - Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71, David Howel l 68, Dav id Di xon 67, Richard Finch 65, David Horsey 69, Pablo Martin (Spa) 68.
136 - Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 62, Hennie Otto (Rsa) 67, Oliver Wilson 66, Rhys Davies 67, Peter Lawrie 68, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 66, Gary Boyd 68, Paul Lawrie 69, Richard Green (Aus) 66, Paul McGinley 70, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 67, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68.
