Lee Westwood surged up the leaderboard after a four under par 68 on day two of the Wells Fargo Championship to sit alongside Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy as Phil Mickelson claimed the halfway lead in North Carolina.
Westwood moved into a tie for fifth - alongside McIlroy, Australian Rod Pampling, and American Jason Kokrak and three behind outright leader Mickelson - on six under overall at Quail Hollow Club, although it could have been even better for the Englishman had he not bogeyed three holes from the end.
He made a fantastic start to his round with a birdie on the par five tenth, although he dropped a shot on his third.
A run of five birdies in eight holes briefly took him to the top of the leaderboard before he dropped back after he could only manage a bogey six on the seventh.
McIlroy, who was in a share for the lead on five under overnight, also started on the back nine but dropped two shots to approach the turn in 38.
But the Northern Irishman's fortunes changed thereafter at the course where he won his first US PGA Tour title in 2010.
Birdies at the first, fourth and eighth holes ensured he remained firmly in the hunt at the halfway stage.
Australian Scott Gardiner and Americans George McNeill and Nick Watney are second on seven under.
Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open Champion, is one of six players in a tie for sixth on five under overall.
