Sergio Garcia recovered from an early double bogey to shoot 68 in The Players Championship at Sawgrass, yet Rickie Fowler, Martin Kaymer and Jhonattan Vegas were making the biggest moves in Florida.
Garcia began the day level and looked set to endure frustration when making a seven on the par five second.
But that and two bogeys did not taint an outstanding effort; the Spaniard delivered eight birdies, including five on the back nine, to move to four under.
Kaymer birdied the first two before showing some impressive consistency to par the next four, and Fowler picked up where he left off last night to birdie the second, third and fifth.
He moved to six under - one shot ahead of Vegas, whose eagle on the second was the highlight of an eventful opening six holes.
Overnight leaders Zach Johnson, Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar, on eight under, were yet to tee off.
