Sweden’s Jonas Blixt is again showing the ‘spunk’ that European Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley liked when meeting the Swede for a first time at last year’s PGA Championship.

Blixt is this week competing in just his second Major Championship and a first Masters.

And the 29-year old ignited hopes of becoming the first first-time winner at Augusta National since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 adding a 71 to his opening round of 70 to be sharing third place late on day two with fellow Scandinavian Thomas Bjorn.

“It was a little windier today with the greens a little firmer, and it’s baking up, so it’s going to be a fun test this weekend,” he said.

And when asked how to explain his lofty position atop of the Augusta leader board the Jacksonville Beach-based golfer remarked:  “It’s been a long Major history with me, so I have 2 underneath my belt, I guess.

“And I just love fast greens.  It’s so much fun to play.  And I see the lines better.  There’s a lot more touch around the greens.  I can visualize the shots a little bit better.  I really, truly enjoy it.

“You know, experience always helps, but I don’t have a lot of it.  I try to do my best and be aggressive.”

In fact, Blixt’s only other Major was last year’s 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill and where he bumped into McGinley.

And McGinley came away from the brief meeting remarking that Blixt shows just the ‘spunk’ the Irishman is looking to be a part of his European Ryder Cup side.

However Blixt it currently outside the top-30 on the European Ryder Cup points team table but then a good result this week would bring the current  World No. 56 right into Gleneagles team selection.

 This is all you want and that’s to be in contention come Saturday and Sunday,” he said. 

“So I’m very happy with where I’m at for now.  It’s right where I want to be, unless I had a 20 shot lead, but that’s not going to happen. 

“You can’t ask for anything else in a major championship to be up there and have a chance of winning, it’s a cool, cool thing to do.”