Adam Scott and Retief Goosen moved to within a shot of overnight leader Bubba Watson during the early stages of the second round at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.
Australian Scott hit a lone birdie over his opening nine holes to move to five under par and a share of second place with South African Goosen, who was two under for the day after seven holes following birdies at the second and third.
The pair were a stroke clear of a clutch of players on four under at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.
American Ben Curtis was three under through 12 holes, as were Australia's Jason Day and Swede Peter Hanson, while last year's US Open Championship winner Lucas Glover picked up four shots over his first ten holes to move into contention.
Miguel Angel Jiménez and Bo Van Pelt were also enjoying below-par rounds to move to four under, alongside Kenny Perry and Phil Mickelson, who along with leader Watson were among the later starters.
Mickelson, like England's Lee Westwood, has the chance to depose Tiger Woods as World Number One this weekend and can do just that with a top-four finish coupled with Woods finishing outside the top 44.
Through nine holes today, Woods was in a share of 68th place as he battled to recover from his opening four over 74.
The 14-time Major winner carded a birdie on the 15th - his sixth - but bogeyed the 18th.
Westwood's hopes of usurping Woods faded within minutes of his second round getting under way, with bogeys at his first two holes - the tenth and 11th - dropping him to three over for the tournament, just one stroke ahead of the 34 year old.
