Swedes Fredrik Jacobson and Peter Hanson were quickest out of the blocks when the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational resumed in Akron.
Both starting on the inward half, Jacobson had a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th to join American Nick Watney in third place on five under, three behind Australian Adam Scott.
Hanson began with three birdies in a row and by moving from level par to three under improved 26 places to joint 14th.
Among the players he overtook was Tiger Woods, just waiting to tee off again after an encouraging two under 68 in his first tournament since mid-May and his first full 18 holes since The Masters Tournament in early April.
Scott, with Woods' ex-caddie Steve Williams carrying his clubs, led by one overnight from compatriot Jason Day.
Woods remained two under after three, saving par from just short of the tenth green, but missing an eight foot birdie chance at the short 12th.
Scot Martin Laird was the joint best of the European contingent on day one with a 66 and he went joint third with a birdie at the fourth, only to bogey two holes later.
Woods looked as if he had saved himself from bogeying the 14th for the second day running when, after driving into sand, he pitched to two feet.
But he missed the putt and then failed to get up and down from just off the green at the short next.
The two bogeys sent him down to 40th place on level par, eight adrift of Scott, who had parred his first four holes.
Laird had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine, so turned four under.
After two bad holes Woods could not have played the 16th and 17th any better. On the par five he was in perfect position for two, pitched over the water to 10 feet and made it, then he struck a 175 yard approach to six feet.
The second successive birdie lifted him back to two under as Scott continued to reel off the pars.
Laird and Jacobson moved into joint third on five under with birdies at the 12th and second respectively, while Hanson was up to eighth and four under for the round and the tournament with six to play.
