Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell are just two behind leader David Toms after the second round of the Players Championship.
Bunched leaderboard in Florida sets up thrilling final 36 holes
The Players Championship at Sawgrass is set up for a dramatic weekend shootout after round two finished with a host of big names in contention.
American David Toms, the 2001 PGA champion, leads by one from Nick Watney after a second round 68 put him at 10-under but Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell are just two shots back in tied third.
Donald became only the eighth player in the tournament's history to play the first 36 holes without a bogey after handing in another blemish-free card which showed birdies at 12, 17 and three of the four par fives.
His 67 added to an opening 69 and he'll now be hoping to emulate Greg Norman in 1994 after the Aussie also went bogey-free for the first two rounds before going on to claim victory.
"It's very satisfying. I played better today than yesterday. It was more of a cruise control day," said the Englishman.
A win for Donald would take him to world number one but the threats are all around him.
They include McDowell who posted eight-under in very different fashion to his Ryder Cup colleague.
The US Open champ had seven birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey at 12 in his 69 but said later it was great to be back on track after his recent struggles.
A weekend with coach Pete Cowen made the difference and after closing with a superb birdie at the 18th McDowell said: "I've worked hard on this slightly new version of my swing and it feels good to be going out there and executing shots under pressure and looking forward to being in the mix."
Crazy
McDowell also spoke about what went through his head during his recent run of three missed cuts in four starts that began with a round of 80 at Bay Hill.
"I just couldn't piece anything together and you have crazy thoughts," he said.
"Will I ever win again? Will I ever be in contention again? Am I done? Am I finished? I don't think I gave that thought any seriousness, but it flashes through your mind.
"I think everything flashes through my mind. I sacked everyone, rehired them, probably sacked them again. It's just the craziness of this sport - you never really know what's around the corner.
"That's why we love this game, it's why we hate it and it's why it keeps us coming back for more.
First round leader Watney is alone in second on nine-under - one shot off the pace - after recovering from a shaky start while alongside Donald and McDowell at eight-under are American Ryder Cup star Steve Stricker and 2009 US Open champ Lucas Glover, the winner at Quail Hollow last week.
A further shot back lie Hunter Mahan and Aaron Baddeley after 67s, JB Holmes and the USA's next Ryder Cup skipper, Davis Love III.
World number two Martin Kaymer is in the frame too despite a mixed day. The German made four birdies but had four bogeys as well to finish five off the lead but certainly not out of it.
Phil Mickelson looked set to be right in the mix too after climbing to six under with a sparkling back nine 31 featuring an eagle at 16. But he came home in 40 to sign for a second successive 71 to finish the day at two-under.
Londoner Brian Davis is going well at six-under despite a double bogey at the fourth while Justin Rose is just alongside Kaymer at -5.
Ian Poulter lost ground when a 72 kept him at two under, the same as Scot Martin Laird and 18-year-old Matteo Manassero.
But Paul Casey missed the cut at three over after a 75 which included a double bogey at 17 where he found water off the tee.
Padraig Harrington fared even worse, racking up six bogeys and a double to end at seven over.
After Tiger Woods pulled out with injury on Thursday, there were two more withdrawals on Friday.
Defending champion Tim Clark fell victim to his persistent elbow problem again while Geoff Ogilvy cited a sore shoulder on his Twitter page.
