PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: WHO REMEMBERS? Time has moved on for Damien McGrane, from the days as a club professional when he gate-crashed this shindig to the extent that, when the BBC's Hazel Irvine inquired if she could have a post-round interview, the golfer looked over his shoulder and replied: "Who? Me?"

That was back in 2001, when McGrane played mainly on the Irish PGA region and harboured ambitions of one day pursuing a life on tour. Andrew Oldcorn won the championship that year, and McGrane, after finishing in tied-58th, went back to his day job, giving lessons in Wexford Golf Club and making the occasional foray on to the main tour or the Challenge Tour.

Ironically, the careers of Oldcorn and McGrane have moved in opposite directions in the past seven years. These days, Oldcorn no longer has a full tour card, while not only is McGrane a seasoned card holder who has improved with each season, but he is a tournament winner, at last month's China Open.

His 66 yesterday for a midway total of 138, six under, has put him on to the fringes of contention again.

After shooting his best round since that win in Beijing, McGrane observed: "It was nice to move on and get back to shooting good scores (again)."

His round was kick-started by a bogey on the third, as the response was to eagle the fourth and grab five birdies, the last on the 18th where he was in a greenside bunker in two and got up-and-down.

All in all, it was an impressive round of golf.

"I played nicely today and I hit a few good putts that didn't fall in. So, in general I was very tidy out there and didn't go astray at all. There are no such things as easy birdies, but whenever I had my chances I took them. I could have been a few better but, as always in this game, you can also be a few worse. I think that 66 was a good reflection of how I played."

McGrane moved from tied-41st at the start of the round to occupy tied-eighth.

"It's about shooting good scores," said McGrane. "You have to go low and punch in some good scores over the weekend in order to make progress."

On a more general theme, McGrane believes the run of Irish players which has seen Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie and himself win in recent weeks is one they should use to keep momentum.

"Our job is to keep it going as long as possible, not to shoot ourselves in the foot. Any of us. We have to ride it while it lasts. And if we can get this week out of it and next week and the next week, that's our job. And it is up to us all to do that."

McDowell, for his part, shot a 73 for 143, one under, to survive into the weekend. However, there was a touch of frustration that he hadn't done better.

"There was some good in there and some loose ones as well," said McDowell, who finished with a three-putt bogey. "Hopefully, I can throw in a low one and give myself a chance over the weekend."

Lawrie did a little jig of his own on the 18th, after sinking a 35-footer for eagle from off the green. That putt was the difference between making the cut and having a free weekend, the eagle giving Lawrie a 72 for 145, one over, to survive on the mark.