The top three players in the Official World Golf Ranking demonstrated their class to claw their way back into contention at the US Open Championship.
English duo Luke Donald and Lee Westwood and German Martin Kaymer had endured a difficult first day at Congressional Country Club, but the star grouping were all moving in the right direction on day two.
Donald, who took over from Westwood as World Number One when he beat him in a play-off for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club last month, was lurking just outside the top ten after turning in a three under par 33.
That brought him back to level par for the week as he looks for a maiden Major title.
Kaymer and Westwood were in serious danger of missing the halfway cut following opening rounds of 74 and 75 respectively.
But Kaymer had three birdies in four holes from the sixth and at one under through ten was on two over.
Westwood joined him with three birdies and a single bogey in his outward 34.
They were still 13 shots behind runaway leader Rory McIlroy, but with eight holes left to play there was still time for the trio to make up ground before the halfway stage.
