Henrik Stenson edged into contention but J B Holmes remained the man to catch midway through the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
American Holmes had tamed Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster with a stunning ten under par 62 on Thursday, and despite not having things all his own way today remained four clear of the field on ten under par.
Stenson overcame a double bogey at the fourth – one of a line of players to find water there during the second round – but a hat-trick of gains from the sixth helped move the former Race to Dubai winner into contention.
Holmes had been unlucky to bogey the par five opening hole when his second rolled onto the green only to break right and find the water.
The former US Ryder Cup star birdied the second from 12 feet, but again found the lake on the third – this time courtesy of a poor shot – before gaining shots at the eighth and tenth either side of a dropped shot at nine.
He was four clear of compatriot Ryan Moore and Australian Adam Scott, the latter having set the clubhouse total at six under with a round of 68.
Stenson and Bubba Watson were tied for fourth on four under, the Swede having birdied the 12th only to hand the shot back two holes later.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson, a runner-up in this event last year, carded a level par 72 to remain in the top ten on two under.
Holmes failed to get up-and-down from a greenside bunker at the 13th, while Stenson and Watson both did well to save par after wild drives at the reachable par four 16th.
