Van de Velde counts his blessings after another good round at Birkdale

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Almost a year to the day that he waited anxiously for the result of a test to see if he had bone cancer, Jean Van de Velde stayed in contention for the Open Championship - and then counted his blessings.

'I'm one of the lucky ones,' said the 42-year-old after adding a 71 to his opening 73 for a four over halfway total.

Van de Velde, still best remembered for his closing triple bogey seven when three clear on the final tee of the 1999 championship at Carnoustie, missed last year's event because of ill-health.

Jean Van De Velde tees off on the 13th hole during his second round at the Open

For months it was not known what was causing him to vomit several times a day - 'I was bloated and felt six months pregnant,' he recalls - and during Open week he was in a Biarritz hospital seriously concerned for his future.

It turned out to be nothing more serious than a virus and returning to the sport has given him a new outlook on life.

'Golf is just a game - a fantastic game, but still just a game,' he added.

'I carry that thought around with me on the course big-time. Coming up the 18th today you would not believe the pain I had in my leg, but that's nothing.

'I'm here and lots of people are not.'

The leg he referred to is something he has to manage all the time after knee surgery six years ago. That also threatened his career, so to be back in the hunt for The Open, especially after needing a birdie to survive the qualifier last week, is a thrill for him.

In the first group off in the second round at 6.30am, Van de Velde made birdie putts of seven and three feet at the first and seventh.

The weather worsened on the back nine, however, and he could not avoid two double bogeys.

The first came when he three-putted the 11th after hitting his second into sand and then, after making two on the short next, he ran up a seven on the long 15th by going into the deep rough and three-putting again.