Luke Donald stormed up the leaderboard in The Players Championship to leave himself in with an excellent chance of moving back to the summit of the World Golf Rankings.
The Englishman needs a top four finish in Florida to overtake Rory McIlroy, who missed the cut earlier in the week.
Donald started in solid fashion; a birdie and bogey ensured he remained three under par through the front nine.
Yet a charge was to come; the 34 year old birdied six of the last nine holes to take the clubhouse lead at nine under.
Profiting from a more positive approach, his scintillating form was epitomised by a gorgeous opening shot on the par three 17th.
Last year’s leading money winner on both sides of the Atlantic mopped up the birdie chance and, on the last, finished a round of 66 with a par.
That left him a shot of David Toms, who delivered the day’s other oustanding display with a brilliant 65.
The American, having started level, bogeyed two of the first four holes, yet he dunked an approach for eagle on the sixth to get back on track.
Toms then also picked up shots on seven, eight, nine, 13, 16 and 17 to add to the one gained on the opening hole.
That ensured he finished seven under - four worse off than Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar, who were leading through six.
Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Martin Laird were alongside Donald.
