Jose Maria Olazabal, taking part in only his second tournament after rheumatism threatened to end his career, is heading towards his 21st appearance at the Masters.

The 42-year-old Spaniard, who has been champion twice at Augusta, feared that he might not be back there because of his ill-health.

But, at the end of the second day of the storm-delayed Shell Houston Open, he recorded a second-round 70 for a halfway score of 139 and eighth place.

He was seven shots behind leader Johnson Wagner, 28, from Texas, who is chasing his first victory on the US Tour at the 45th attempt.

While Wagner needs to win to earn a place at this week's US Masters, Olazabal - health permitting - seems likely to return to the course where he won in 1994 and 1999.

British Open champion Padraig Harrington was 12 shots off the lead.  

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