England's Justin Rose shot another 66 to share the lead at the Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour - but three birdies in his last five holes brought Rory McIlroy right back into the thick of things.
Rose moved alongside Tom Gillis at eight under par on a day when another American, left hander Brian Harman, shattered the PGA National Champion Course record by three with a dazzling 61.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who will take over from Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings if he wins on Sunday, is only one behind thanks to the shots he picked up on the 14th, 15th and 18th.
Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood are seven back, however, and the former had to birdie the last two holes for his 68; he was in danger of missing the cut in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida until then.
Rose, who began on the tenth, actually reached ten under by turning in 31 and adding further birdies on the third and fifth, but bogeyed the next two. He went over the green at the difficult sixth and then failed to get up and down from sand on the seventh.
"I've not made that many mistakes," he said, staying positive. "It's a course that rewards limiting the mistakes. Keeping them off the card really counts."
McIlroy, delighted with his position after entering the closing stretch five adrift, said: "I felt like I played another really solid round.
"I had a couple of chances on the front nine and didn't take them, but I was just trying to stay as patient as possible.”
Northern Ireland's 22 year old US Open Champion struck a 179 yard approach to two feet on the 14th, rolled in a 15 footer at the next and then found the green in two on the 556 yard last and two putted.
Harmon, first reserve for the event at the start of the week, turned in 29 and stood on the tee at the par five 18th needing an eagle for 59.
He was in a greenside bunker for two, but splashed out five feet past the cup and missed it.
Graeme McDowell blasted a 64 and moved from three over to three under. Padraig Harrington was one further back after a 68, but Open Champion Darren Clarke missed the cut on eight over after adding 75 to his opening 73.
Westwood had only one bogey on his card - it came at the short 17th for the second day running - but managed just two birdies. He and Woods were outside the top 30.
Overnight leader Davis Love, America's Ryder Cup Captain, fell back, following a hole-in-one on the fifth in his opening 64 with a double bogey on his return there.
Charl Schwartzel, meanwhile, carded an impressive 66 to move from one over to three under, while Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal made the cut with a 67.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson finished one under after a 69 and, despite following up his impressive 67 with a disappointing 74, 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen just made the cut.
Y.E. Yang and Robert Karlsson will also head into day three after shooting 70 and 69 respectively.
