Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods both made moves up the Arnold Palmer Invitational leaderboard at Bay Hill - but the major winners will have to reel in midway leader Sean O'Hair over the weekend in Orlando.
American O'Hair, on a course he played regularly as a child, put that experience and his Texas upbringing playing in windy conditions to good use and opened his second round with three straight birdies on another breezy day in central Florida.
He added three more on his way to a five-under-par 65 to take to a three-shot lead over the field at eight under for the week heading into Saturday's third round.
With good scoring again hard to come by, Open and US PGA champion Harrington made his move with a two-under-par round of 68 to take him to two under for the tournament while US Open and defending champion Woods will start the third round at three-under in fifth place following his one-under 69.
O'Hair, who had opened with a 67 on Thursday, moved into the lead with three birdies in a row starting from the 10th tee and he was headed for an even bigger lead before bogeying the ninth, his last hole of the day.
"I played well," O'Hair said. "It was just one of those rounds where you just kind of do everything well and it's nice to do it here.
"I've always been a good wind player, just because I'm from west Texas, so I'm used to wind. Florida is like nothing compared to Texas.
"You know, I'm very comfortable playing in Florida. I've lived here for a little bit and played a lot of junior golf here, especially at this golf course, and it's a place I feel very comfortable."
Overnight leader Jason Gore birdied the last for a round of 70 to return to five under and second place at halfway.
Tied for third a further stroke back are Robert Allenby of Australia, who shot a 65 on Friday, the only bogey-free round of the day, and Ryuji Imada of Japan, who carded a second-round 66.
There were contrasting fortunes for Harrington and Woods at the final hole of their round, the ninth, with the Irishman missing a nine-footer and three-putting for a five, his only bogey of the day.
Despite misgivings over his putting during the round, Harrington was satisfied with his day's work.
"It's always good to shoot two-under par around here but I am disappointed there, three-putting the last and missing three short birdie putts in the last six holes," Harrington said.
"Things like that happen at times, but still happy with the score.
"I haven't putted very well for the two days, so that needs to be a bit better. I just need to be a bit more trusting actually, all the way through my game."
Woods, meanwhile, had missed nine greens in regulation after another wayward day off the tee but again compensated with a red-hot putter.
Having needed just 24 putts on yesterday, Woods closed out his second round with his 25th putt of the day for par and despite his disappointing ball striking will be satisfied to have remained in touch with the leaders.
Vaughan Taylor had an ace at the par-three seven to help him to a 68, two under for the week in a tie for sixth with Harrington and his fellow Americans Lee Janzen, Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney, Mark Wilson and Tim Herron, the 1999 champion, who fell from four under overnight after a 72.
India's Jeev Milkha Singh shot a 68 to move to one under at the halfway point while Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell improved two shots on his opening 71 to reach level par after 36 holes.
England's Oliver Wilson fired an even-par 70 to remain at two over heading into the weekend, and compatriots Brian Davis, at four over, and Justin Rose, who started the day at five over before firing a 67 to finish on two over, also reached the weekend's play.
Retief Goosen of South Africa, crept in on the cut mark at five over, less than a week after winning the Transitions Championship but on the way home are Englishmen Greg Owen, at eight over after a second-round 72 and Ian Poulter, who added a 73 to his 77 to finish his tournament at 10 over.
Also heading for an early exit were Swedish duo Carl Petterson at 12 over following a 74 on Friday and Fredrik Jacobsen, nine over after a 73, as well as teenage Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, who finished at seven over.
England's Ross Fisher is also on his way out but due to a disqualification, having incorrectly signed for a three instead of a four on the 14th.
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