Padraig Harrington needs one of the best comebacks of his career if he is to add a second European Order of Merit title to his three majors.
But the Dubliner believes he is perfectly capable of it.
A five-over-par 76 left Harrington joint 43rd of the 57 players in the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama going into today's second round.
And given he has to finish first or second to have a chance of denying Ryder Cup partner Robert Karlsson the number one spot, he conceded it had not been a good start.
But Harrington then added: "It's been proven that this is not a hard course to come back on - it's a good one.
"Someone shot six under today and if I shoot six under tomorrow I am going to be well into it going into the weekend."
That someone was Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, who a year after losing a play-off to Justin Rose carded a superb 65 to lead by three from tournament favourite Sergio Garcia.
Karlsson, playing with Harrington, managed only a 73 himself, but with a lead of more than Ј235,000 is still the man to beat in the money-list race.
Lee Westwood could be the biggest danger to him, though. A one-under 70 put the Worksop golfer, Europe's number one in 2000, in joint fifth place.
If Westwood wins on Sunday, Karlsson would have to finish second or third to become the first Swede to claim the Harry Vardon Trophy.
What looked a possible key moment for Karlsson yesterday came on the long 11th. Four over at the time, he drove into bushes and on arriving at the spot, he and his caddie could see five balls.
"But we couldn't identify them," he said. "There were a lot of thorns and things, but a marshal volunteered to go in and found it."
That meant Karlsson did not have to go all the way back to the tee and, after salvaging a par five, he played the remaining seven holes in two under to climb into joint-16th spot.
Among those alongside him is Miguel Angel Jimenez, the only other player left in the title race. Jimenez, however, has to win and Karlsson has to be outside the top 38.
Westwood stated: "It's a grind, but I enjoy grinding.
"I don't think you ever feel comfortable on this course, but I feel I have the mental strength and patience for it.
"It's very much like playing a major championship. The same frame of mind is needed. You don't have to hit a bad shot to make bogey."
He gave as an example the 350-yard eighth hole, where he struck what he described as the "perfect" tee shot and still found himself behind three trees.
Colin Montgomerie, winner of the Order of Merit a record eight times, has always been one of Valderrama's biggest fans and while the Volvo Masters will be no more after this week, the Scot believes there is a good chance of the course staging a different event some time in the future.
"That would be super - it's magnificent here," he said, before being asked about a totally different matter.
Artist Jack Vettriano was quoted in several newspapers yesterday saying he had declined to do a portrait of the Scottish star because "I don't do men with breasts - and I don't mean that as unkind to Colin Montgomerie".
When told about it, Montgomerie, who has lost nearly two stone since The Open in July, replied: "I'm glad he doesn't want to paint me."
Source: Ravens add Bouman to back up QB Flacco
KARLSSON IN HARRINGTON’S SHADOW
HARRINGTON: KARLSSON DESERVES CROWN
