Sergio Garcia, seeking a second successive win and with it a place in next week's World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, remained in joint fifth place after seven holes of his second round in the Andalucía Masters at Valderrama.
With overnight leader Richie Ramsay among the later starters, Garcia made the perfect start with an opening birdie, but returned to one under par - five behind - with a bogey on the short sixth.
Playing partner Justin Rose birdied the first two holes before slipping back to level par, good enough for joint eighth place, by taking five at the 497 yard par four seventh.
On six under following a brilliant 65 Ramsay led by two from England's Ross Fisher, another of the afternoon starters.
Garcia chipped in on the long 11th for the second day running. It was for birdie this time rather than eagle, but after pars on the next four holes he was up into a share for second place on two under.
Ramsay bogeyed the third and sixth, the two par threes on the front nine, but was still two in front.
That was because Fisher dropped shots on the first and fourth to be alongside not only Garcia, but also France's Grégory Havret and Scot Stephen Gallacher.
