Dustin Johnson fired a seven-under 64 to climb into a share of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am lead after the second round.
The world number one made eight birdies on the Monterey Peninsula Country Club course to move into 12 under in Pebble Beach, California, on Friday.
A two-time winner of the PGA Tour event, Johnson started on the back nine and holed five birdies, before three in four helped him into the lead.
Johnson has made a fine start to this year, winning the Tournament of Champions before a top-10 finish at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Joining him atop the leaderboard is fellow American Beau Hossler, who carded a five-under 67 on the Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
Hossler backed up his opening-round 65 with a bogey-free Friday.
Troy Merritt (67 on Spyglass Hill) and Julian Suri (67 on Monterey Peninsula) are two shots back in a tie for third.
A further shot adrift are the likes of four-time champion Phil Mickelson, Spaniard Jon Rahm and Australian Jason Day.
Rahm, the in-form world number two, carded a second straight 67 to be in the six-man group at nine under.
Day and Mickelson fired six-under 65s on Monterey Peninsula, with Aaron Wise, Kevin Streelman and Steve Stricker joining the group in a tie for fifth.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth managed to get going, shooting a five-under 66 on Monterey Peninsula to be tied for 23rd.
Making his first PGA Tour appearance of the season, Rory McIlroy struggled on the same course.
The Northern Irish four-time major champion carded a 74 to slip back to one under as he endured a forgettable few moments on the par-four fifth hole.
McIlroy had an eagle putt at the hole, but left with a double bogey after an implosion, before two more bogeys followed to finish his round.
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