He achieved that fate in the Dubai Desert Classic in March, and his halfway lead at the Belfry will almost certainly guarantee a return to Ryder Cup action in four months' time.

Having been two over par after 10 holes of his first round, Bjorn reached halfway on the seven-under-par total of 137, one ahead of a group that included Europe's cup captain Sam Torrance.

The 47-year-old Scot appeared to have slipped back with bogeys on the 12th, 13th and 17th - he began on the back nine - but then came a hat-trick of birdies from the second for a round of 70.

Although Torrance was disappointed to see playing partner and defending champion Jose Maria Olazabal, a man he badly wants in his team in September, slip back to two under with a 75, he was positively purring about Bjorn.

"He is an absolute world-beater, as he showed in Dubai going all four days head-to-head with Tiger and coming out on top," commented Torrance.

"He's scared of no-one. Dubai was the perfect example of that and I love his attitude - he's hard on himself, but very aggressive - and I've always been very impressed with his game."

Since that defeat, when he finished with a double-bogey seven to lose by two, Woods has won his next three tournaments, culminating, of course, in the Masters triumph a month ago that made him the first player in golfing history to hold all four majors at the same time.

Bjorn crammed five birdies into nine holes from the 16th to lead the race for the £166,660 first prize on the course where the Americans will defend the trophy. He was disappointed to finish with a bogey, however.

Olazabal bogeyed the fourth, fifth and sixth to fall six adrift, while another Cup hopeful Bernhard Langer finished on three under after a 69 that promised more after he went to the turn in 32.

Alongside Torrance was South African Desvonde Botes, who reached eight under himself before double-bogeying the last - and that without even going into the water.

Botes, winner of the tour qualifying school last November, thinned a bunker shot from beside the green and then took three more to hole out.

Crewe's David Gilford, winner of the English Open on the course 10 years ago, was also six under with six to play, while overnight leaders Paul McGinley and Henrik Stenson had still to resume on the same mark.

Colin Montgomerie spared himself the embarrassment of a third successive missed cut.

That was a distinct possibility after an opening 73, but birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th lifted the Scot to two under. The cut was likely to fall at level par.

Lee Westwood had the same battle on his hands, but he was another late starter.

Padraig Harrington set off again on four under, but that became two when his pitch to the last spun back into the water. He double-bogeyed that, but recovered for a 72 and four-under total.