Hot streak helps Allenby

By his own admission, tournament favourite Robert Allenby pulled a rabbit out of the hat on the back nine at Huntingdale to surge into contention at the 2008 Australian Masters.

Chasing his third Masters gold jacket, Allenby was paddling at even par at the mid-way point of Friday morning's second round before picking up five shots in the run home.

The highlight was his three-wood approach to three metres at the 530-metre par-five sixth which helped to set up an eagle.

A birdie, birdie finish left Allenby feeling much more at peace with himself than when he departed the course on Thursday with a first-round one-over 73 to his name.

"I managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat today and pull myself back into the tournament," Allenby said.

"Even after nine holes I really didn't look fantastic because I was only level par, so it was nice to shoot five-under the back nine."

Allenby said he struggled with the pace of the greens during the opening round which was contested in hot, gusty conditions.

But a change of routine from the fourth hole onwards on Friday paid dividends.

"I was spending too much time staring at the ball and was tightening up, and that enabled me to put bad strokes on," he said.

"I didn't have any rhythm in my stroke ... but luckily I thought about it and it wasn't too late."

"It's a nice feeling when you get the rhythm right and I was striking the putts just absolutely pure."

"If that part of my game feels good, I can do anything."

Allenby said he expects someone in the field to get to 10-under by the end of the round, and that would give him a target to aim for.

"I know I can birdie every hole out there; I've birdied every single hole, just not in a row, obviously," he said.

"I know that every hole is a birdie chance and some of them eagle chances."

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow; I'm glad I'm a little bit closer to the leaders and I just know that if I keep playing the way I did the last five or six holes, I'll be right there on Sunday."

"I'm happy with where I am."