Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros had some company at the top before they teed off again in The Masters Tournament at Augusta National.
Korean Y E Yang, the only Asian golfer to win a Major so far, hit straight back from an opening bogey with a hat-trick of birdies and joined the two Europeans on seven under par.
There was a flying start too from England's Ian Poulter, but after dropping four shots in four holes for an opening 74 he was battling to get back into the hunt.
Poulter made a 40 footer on the first, chipped to five feet on two and then birdied the third as well, but a bogey two holes later put him one over again.
Luke Donald also made a four on the long second and, from three over after ten holes on Thursday, had climbed to one under.
McIlroy, Quiros and Yang were a stroke ahead of American Ricky Barnes, who birdied the second and fourth.
