Matteo Manassero may not have played the Genesis Scottish Open for six years but he looked like he had never been away as he carded a stunning 63 to get right into the mix heading into the weekend.
Scotland's national open has always been one of the most high-profile events on the DP World Tour and has been part of the Rolex Series since the inception of the blue riband tournaments in 2017.
Manassero finished in the top five in 2014 and 2016 and played the first two Rolex Series editions in 2017 and 2018 but lost his card that season, returning to Tour this term via the Qualifying School and winning at the Jonsson Workwear Open.
During his absence, the event has found its home at The Renaissance Club, established its partnership with Genesis and become co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR, and Manassero admits it feels bigger than in the past.
"This event has always been a big event, the Scottish Open," he said. "It's been a while since I played last time and it's definitely got bigger and bigger.
"Like a lot of other events on the DP World Tour, they have gotten bigger since last time I played.
"It's good to be here and good to be playing well."
Manassero's struggles on the course in recent years saw him briefly step away from the game as he dropped as low as 1,805th in the Official World Golf Ranking, and he admits that makes teeing it up this week all the more special.
"It's much easier to put things in perspective after you've been through more difficult times on the golf course," he said.
"I know much more about me on the golf course and I think I can handle myself a lot better. You can enjoy more the good things that come and I guess be a little more prepared for the future."
Manassero started day two on the tenth and got up and down after laying up on his opener before hitting beautiful irons into the 13th and 14th.
He completed the set on the par-fives with a two-putt on the 16th and up-and-down on the third before holing from around six feet on the fifth and sixth.
He then dropped a shot on the seventh but hit back with an excellent tee-shot into the par-three ninth to card his lowest score at this event and get to ten under.
"I've been hitting the irons really well," he said. "I've been in position off the tee most of the time and hitting my irons well.
"Of course we are having dream weather here in Scotland. Doesn't even feel true. That obviously helps to get the distance right most of the times. It's not that hard to get the club pin-high, which is something usually really hard to do here.
"I've been playing really well tee-to-green so that's been the key."
