Thomas Bjorn in contention at weekend

Thomas Bjorn planned to hit balls for 20 minutes and put up his feet after his round Friday.

Bjorn closed the second round with four birdies on the final five holes for 4-under-par 68, marking his best showing at the Masters at the halfway point since 2005.

The Danish golfer, ranked No. 29 in the world, played early and finished with the clubhouse lead at 3-under 141 through two rounds.

“I played well,” Bjorn said. “I played solid all the way through. I pretty much felt I was in control of what I was doing.”

The 43-year-old turned back the clock with his play, reminiscent of his showing in 2005. Then, he opened the Masters with rounds of 71-67 and sat in second place. He shot 81 in the final round that year and tied for 25th.

He made the cut the past two years in Augusta with little to show. In 2012, he opened with 73-76 and went on to tie for 37th place. Last year, Bjorn opened with a pair of 73s and eventually tied for 46th place.

“I came in here last year and played so poorly,” he said. “I just feel like I learned so much from last year.”

Bjorn, who closed 2013 with a pair of wins on the Euro­pean Tour, opened the Mas­ters with 73. He was even for the tournament through 13 holes when he got his round going Friday.

At No. 14, he rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt. He followed with a lob wedge to 10 feet for another birdie at the par-5 15th.

At No. 16, Bjorn fired a 7-iron to eight feet for another birdie. Despite missing the green and making bogey at No. 17, Bjorn stiffed an 8-iron to inches at the last hole for birdie.

“Today was a good one,” he said. “It was right up there. Today, I did the right things and executed well.”