Valero Texas Open Round Two: Eric who? D A what? Thank goodness I've heard of Bernhard Langer

Eric Axley anyone? Best results T24 this season and missed the cut 13 out of 23 outings. He hasn’t really crossed my radar before. and with earnings of just $200,000 he’s got a mountain to climb to qualify for next year. But a seven under is a pretty strong message on day two.

Co-leader D A Points does not come into sight too often either - it’s that kind of tournament. He’s missed the cut 16 out of 24 but at least he managed a T10 at the Honda Classic in March which I vaguely remember. He also lurks very much in the qualification foothills with $300,000 in his piggy bank.

Paul Goydos is another sleeper to suddenly vault into view by matching Axley’s seven under Friday. He has a few forumites excited because of his T14 in the 84 Lumber last week.

We certainly shouldn’t write these guys off. This is just the kind of trappy competition they could win. But there’s the usual cast of hopefuls forming an orderly queue behind including Frank Lickliter II, who looked likely to forge in front Friday until bogeys on the last two holes let him down. And anyone for Bernhard Langer, who has suddenly come to life? I wonder if he can remember his last PGA win, which was the Masters in 1993?

Bit of a high-priced lottery if you ask me, especially if the feared bad weather strikes. That could be just the cue Justin Rose needs so I’ll take my profits on him while I can and await developments.